PASCHA: By St. Gregory Nazianzus

This is the Day of the Resurrection; and for me a fitting beginning. Let us all be united in heart, and let us give glory to God on this solemn festival. Let us address as brothers even those who hate us, as also those who love us, and have helped us, and have suffered anything on our behalf. Let us forgive all things in the Resurrection. Let us forgive one another: I who have suffered this honourable violence, and you who have inflicted it; should you be angry with me because of my reluctance (i.e., to accept the priestly dignity). For it may be that my reluctance is more acceptable to God than the readiness of others. For it is good to be retiring, even with God, as Moses was, and after him Jeremias; and then to run obediently when He calls, as Aaron did, and Isaias, provided that the one and the other are done in a right spirit: the one because of one’s own weakness, the other because of the Majesty of Him Who calls. Yesterday the Lamb was slain, and the doorposts sprinkled with His Blood; while Egypt mourned for her firstborn. But the Destroying Angel and his sacrificial knife, fearful and terrifying, passed over us: for we were protected by the Precious Blood. This day we have wholly departed from Egypt, and from Pharoah its cruel tyrant, and his oppressive overseers; we are freed from labouring with bricks and straw, and no one forbids us to celebrate the festival of our passing over, our Pasch, and to celebrate, not with the leaven of malice, and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, and carrying with us nothing of the ancient and evil leaven of Egypt.

Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with Him. Yesterday I died with Him; today I am given life with Him. Yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise again with Him. Today let us offer Him Who has suffered and Who has risen for us – you think perhaps I was about to say, gold or silver, or precious things, or shining stones of rare price, the frail material of this earth, which will remain here, and of which the wicked and those who are slaves of earthly things and of the prince of this world possess the greatest part – rather, let us offer Him ourselves, which to God is the most precious and becoming of gifts. Let us offer to His Image what is made in the likeness of this Image. And let us make recognition of our own dignity. Let us give honour to Him in Whose Likeness we were made. Let us dwell upon the wonder of this mystery, that we may understand for what Christ has died.

Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. Let us become Gods because of Him, since He for us became man. He took upon Himself a low degree that He might give us a higher one. He became poor. Chat through His poverty we might become rich. He took upon Himself the form of a servant that we might be delivered from slavery. He came down that we might rise up. He was tempted that we might learn to overcome. He was despised that we might be given honour. He died that He might save us from death. He ascended to heaven that we who lie prone in sin may be lifted up to Him