Sunday After Ascension Homily

Scripture readings for this homily can be found here.

This past Thursday we celebrated the Ascension of Our Lord following 40 days of Paschal celebrations. 40 glorious days of Easter joy declaring Christ is risen from the dead! However...the Ascension is a day that often carries many mixed emotions for the Christian who has journeyed from Lent, to the place of crucifixion, finally arriving at the moment of inexplicable radiant resurrection. Now the day has come and gone when Christ is suddenly taken from us, or is it that he chooses to leave us, perhaps it is that he must leave us, or is even the question to difficult to construct - let alone the answer? 

Regardless, we know we have journeyed with a man in his darkest moments, to his brightest, and now he suddenly has faded off into the clouds while we stand scratching our heads in bewilderment. If this puzzles us, as a people of faith, imagine how much more it puzzles those outside the faith. We profess a God who destroyed death by death and yet he still seems to many to be no more present than those who have reposed in previous generations. 

The reality, however is that Christ ascended, so that he might expand and grow and become known in a multitude of bodies rather than a single human being. If people around us no longer see Christ the guilt lays no further than our own lack of love and action.

The ascension allows for Christ to no longer be limited to only the body given to him by the Theotokos, Our Lady, but now by the power of the Holy Spirit he can truly become known in the hearts, eyes, words and actions of all people-kind. As believers this is our calling and mandate from Christ, to become Him to the world around us. He left so that all generations would have this blessed possibility and divine calling. 

We must ask ourselves: do we grasp the Christ potential laid before us, by means of the death, resurrection, & ascension, or do we simply stand staring into the sky bewildered? Does Christ still walk this earth or have we allowed him to fade away? Is the man who once dared to eat with the despised, touch the sick, and speak with prostitutes still walking the earth by means of our feet or have we bound God’s feet by our lack of service? 

A Pastoral Letter ~ God Weeps Over Boston

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” The Book of Revelation

Dear Children of God:

It is with great weeping and heavy hearts we each hear of the incident today in Boston. As people joined together to celebrate life and the movement of the human body - lives were taken, killed and destroyed. We experience fear in the face of such unholy confusion and bewilderment as to why such an event would ever become manifest. The dance of life has been shattered in this moment and now we must turn to one another and truly become the hands and feet of Christ.

I encourage you each to not spend these moments judging or attempting to discern who is guilty but rather to pray and to give. Pray asking for the abounding mercy and peace of God to be with the responders, medics, grief counselors and clergy. Pray for the souls of those lost to find peace in the unfathomable love of God which knows no end or death. Pray for the families of those fatally wounded, that they may in time heal but now be able to mourn and wail. Pray for the families of all those injured to be able to care for their loved ones, as needed, without fear of finances. Pray for whoever caused this incident, purposefully or not, that they too will allow the love of God to be manifested within themselves. Pray for the children who have bore witness to this tragedy that their parents and guardians will be able to bring your peace to their minds, a peace which surpasses our human understanding. Pray for those who will be and are already being persecuted simply for their ethnicity and faith, support them with love.

Give today and in the following days by becoming vibrant icons of God. We are God's tears, his hands, her feet, his arms of love, her words of solace. Allow God's love to move through you to others in need. Be there for those who are connected to this tragedy and simply need fellowship to endure the pain and fear. Give by means of opening your wallets to trusted organization and families in need after this day. Give by being Incarnate Christ to all who are in need during these woeful hours. Moments such as these affect far many than we often acknowledge or realize, seek out those in your community who are need of being embraced in God's arms.

May we all remember that today is not the end for anyone for during this Paschal season we are continually reminded: Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! But in this hour we do weep for God weeps when any of his children are hurt. The Divine One weeps for all involved. Do we weep? Do we pray? Do we give? This is our calling as people of faith.

Lord, have mercy!
Christ, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy!

May we have mercy on others in our words, actions, and prayers!

Peace be with your spirit,

Daniel +

Open Episcopal Church

Christos Anesti!

The Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!