IN THE MIDST OF THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION
Just as there can be no resurrection without death, and just as a seed cannot bring forth fruit unless it dies, the way of the Cross and Resurrection must also go together. When the Lord Jesus Christ cried with a loud voice on the cross, He declared His power even in the midst of His present bodily pains. A weak person cannot cry out loud before he dies. This cry declared the death of the Lord, but it raised many saints from the dead so that they entered Jerusalem and many knew them…this cry also gave proof of God’s power and ability, thus the Lord said before His death and resurrection, “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (St. John10:18). This was also the cry that declared to the Jews God’s reconciliation with mankind – not through the blood of animals, but through the true Sacrifice, the Savior of the world. This is why the veil of the Temple was torn in two form top to bottom. This was the cry which quaked the earth, split the rocks, and raised the dead. As St. Jacob of Serog said, “His voice ascended to the highest and turned off all the lights, the sun and the moon, and He ascended to Hades to raise the dead from eternal damnation.”
The Lord Jesus Christ was pierced in His side as Zechariah the prophet said, “Then they will look on Me whom they pierced.” (12:10). This pierce, though, has declared to us about the opening of the gate of life for all mankind once again. Just as life was taken from Adam’s side to Eve, who is the mother of all beings, and just as the door of the ark was at its side, when Noah opened it life existed after the deadly flood, this pierce in the side of our Lord also brought us new life through blood and water. The blood symbolizes salvation, and the water symbolizes new life through Baptism.
When the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified He gave three gifts:
a. The Spirit, “And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (St. John 19:30). This symbolizes the essence of God, for “God is Spirit.” (St. John 4:24).
b. Blood which symbolizes the Son, “And the Logos became flesh” (St. John 1:14).
c. Water, which symbolizes the Holy Spirit as the Lord Jesus Christ described to us in 1John 5:6-8: “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth:the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.” This is the new life that the Lord commanded His disciples to preach, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (St. Matt. 28:19). Longenous the soldier who pierced the Lord received new life from this pierce, and lead a life of faith until he martyred in the name of the Lord. “In the burial of the Lord, as in His birth, He was buried in a new tomb, as He was incarnated in the womb of a virgin. He arose while the doors were shut, as St. Mary remained a virgin. He was buried in a garden to remind the human race of the paradise out of which it was expelled.” (The Patriarch St. Severus)
“He arose without His burial clothes because He no longer had a need for bodily necessities. He arose from the dead and His wounds were healed, but their marks were kept to heal the wounds of his disciples’ hearts. Which wounds? The wounds of the lack of faith, even when He appeared to them, “they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.” (St. Luke 24:37).” (St. Augustine) May the blessings of His Holy Resurrection be with you all Pi Ekhristos Aftonf—Khen O Methme Aftonf May5, 2013 Baramouda 27, 1729 AM
+Fr. Marcos Girgis
Our Church in R.I. is requesting your tender love in prayers and contributions to help with the furnishing process of its building (Icons, Iconostasis, pews… etc. May God bless all your lives. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (Jn. 1:4)
