Orthodox Easter, the message of Archbishop Anastas: Let the Resurrection of Christ illuminate your life

2023-04-14 14:57:00, Aktualitet CNA

Orthodox Easter, the message of Archbishop Anastas: Let the Resurrection of

Anastas Janullatos

On Friday, the archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania, Anastas Janullatos, wished Easter to the Orthodox believers.

Archbishop Anastas Janullatos wishes the faithful that the joy of Christ's resurrection illuminates the lives of all people, freeing them from bitterness and fog.

Full message:

This year's Easter invites us to a difficult battle. These years, especially the last months, have gathered around us, but also in our hearts, a multifaceted sorrow: Unspeakable pain due to the railway disaster and the large number of earthquake victims among our neighbors, indescribable sorrow due to of the fierce war in Ukraine. Various personal and social trials are added to these sorrows. However, the Church, through the wonderful hymnology of Easter, invites us to a decisive passage: "Easter, let us embrace each other with gusto, Oh, Easter, free us from bitterness".

Sorrow and joy exist side by side in human life. This truth is strongly emphasized in the events of Holy Week. Before the Lesson, during the Mystical Supper, Christ made it clear to the students: "So now you have sorrow, but when I see you again, your heart will rejoice and no one will take your joy" (Jn. 16:22).

Pain causes shock during the days of the Lessons, but, in the end, it is overcome in the light of the Resurrection. The first decisive word and advice of the Risen Christ to the devoted Benevolent Women, who rushed to the tomb, was: "Rejoice!" (Mt. 28:9). When the Risen Christ first appeared to his disciples, the Evangelist John says that they "rejoiced when they saw the Lord" (Jn. 20:21). The joy of Easter springs from the immense pain that preceded it: betrayal, denial, neglect, death on the cross. The Resurrection Easter frees you from all kinds of sorrow: The Resurrection of Christ proves the victory of truth over lies, of love over hate, of life over death. The Risen Christ destroys every trace of Hades. It shakes the power of death that brings violence, pride, injustice.

The interweaving of pain and excitement leaves us speechless. However, the harmonization of opposites remains characteristic of life in Christ. Apostle Paul emphasizes this extraordinary experience: "... in many sorrows, but with the joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 1:6). We are dealing with a surprising harmonization, with a strange contrast. He describes this more expressively in another letter: «We are afflicted on every side, but not faint; we are perplexed, but not desperate; we are persecuted, but we are not forsaken; they have thrown us further, but we have not reached the end" (2 Cor. 4:8-10). And elsewhere: "... we are bitter, but always happy; we are poor, but we enrich many; we have nothing, but in truth we have everything" (2 Cor. 6:6-11). In the last book of the Holy Scripture, in the Revelation of John, it is summarized,

The harmony of sorrow with the joy of the Holy Spirit, which is spoken of, at first sight seems impossible. But, as the Apostle of the nations assures us, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). This combination seems impossible, but the close relationship with Christ who suffered and rose makes it possible. We experience this communion with the incarnate Word of God by being part of the Church, which is His mystical Body. The Holy Spirit, through this communion, acts in our lives, strengthens and rejoices our whole being. The resurrection is the foretaste of God's final victory, the foretaste of eternal love.

Exhilarating joy rests on solid foundations. First, it rests on the assurance that Christ gave us: "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth" (Mt. 28:18). Over the centuries, many have emerged as world rulers. However, the One who has the ultimate power over everything that happens in heaven and on earth is our Lord Jesus Christ. The second solid foundation is the assurance given by the Risen Christ: "I will be with you all the days, until the end of time" (Mt. 28:20). Our God is not distant, he is not an indifferent observer of the things that happen. He continues to be "with us" in all phases and difficult moments of our lives. And, thirdly: Paschal joy is multiplied when you give joy where hatred abounds, where despair takes your breath away.

"Easter, let's embrace each other with gas,

Oh, Easter, free us from bitterness".

Sorrow and joy are exchanged with each other in our lives. In our journey there is no shortage of unpredictable painful events, disasters that overcome our strength and put us down. We feel powerless to face them and are often overcome with fear. However, let our will not fall into indolence. As far as it depends on us, let us let the light of the Resurrection illuminate our lives and let the Holy Spirit give us endurance, patience, hope. Resurrection joy is the hallmark of life in Christ. Therefore, the Coryph Apostle insistently emphasizes: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say to you: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:4, 1 Thess. 5:16).

Let the joy of the Resurrection illuminate our lives, freeing us from bitterness and fog. Let the assurance of resurrection, the reviving spirit, be a support and a source of joy every day in our lives.