Paschal Reminiscence

It was Paschaltide one year in the early 1980's, sometime in the month of May or early June. I was fifteen or sixteen years old and preparing a talk for the Antiochian Archdiocese Oratorical Festival to be held at the Midwest SOYO Convention in the summer of that year. My church-school director had somehow obtained for me a copy of Fr. Dr. George Florovsky's book, "Creation and Redemption," to study.

As I half-studied, half-daydreamed that book one cool, Spring afternoon alone in my room, Fr. Florovsky's words about the Resurrection of Christ opened up to me a mystery: a brilliant vista of Resurrection Joy in my mind and heart. I was enthralled and overcome by this experience for just a brief time, perhaps a few minutes, I can't really say, though its impression is as tangible to my heart today as it was a quarter-century ago. Afterward I was solidly convinced "in my inward parts," as the psalmist in Psalm 50 says, that if in fact Jesus, who is the Son of God made flesh, truly did rise from the tomb after being crucified and buried as a mortal man, then everything -- everything -- every molecule and sub-atomic particle in the universe, and all of human history and civilization, is changed and transfigured on account of this wonder. Jesus Christ is risen, ascended in glory, enthroned at the right hand of the Father and truly everywhere present, filling all things!

Still, though I had this mystical gift from the Holy Spirit, the victory in the summer's Oratorical contest was not mine. I was "first runner-up" that year; but in the Spirit of Truth that visited me that season, I saw what is the purpose and true prize of our high calling as Christians: unending, rapturous, and limitless JOY in perfect union with the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit! Until He comes again in glory with His angels, may we believers each bear our baptismal crosses with faith, hope and love. So we will ever sing glory to Him who arose from the grave: Christ is Risen indeed!

--The least of the presbyters of the Orthodox Christian Church of Antioch in North America (kept anonymous at the author's request)