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Day 16

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (5:19-24)

Jesus said, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.

From his Commentary on Isaiah by St. Cyril of Alexandria

Death prevailed and swallowed us up, but God has wiped away the tears from every face. Death had power over Adam, our first parent, because of his sin, and like some savage and cruel beast, it attacked him and carried him off. After that lamentations, wailings, tears, and mourning for the dead were the lot of all who dwelt upon earth. But in Christ they came to an end. Coming to life again on the third day, he trampled death under foot and became the way by which we were to escape corruption. Christ became the firstborn from the dead and the firstfruits of all who had fallen asleep. Now the firstfruits, the one who comes first, will undoubtedly be followed later by others, that is by us. And so sorrow has been turned into joy; we are no longer clad in mourning but girded with a God-given gladness that inspires the jubilant cry: Death, where is your victory? Grave, where is your sting?

And in that day they will say: Behold your God in whom we have trusted and exulted. We shall rejoice in our salvation, for God will give rest upon this mountain. In other words, you will recognise the one who fills the cup of gladness with wine and anoints with sweet oil the inhabitants of the spiritual Zion. You will recognise him to be truly God and by his very nature the Son of God, even though for the life and salvation of all he appeared in the nature of a slave and became in every respect except sin a man like those who live upon earth.

Behold our God in whom we have trusted. We have exulted in our salvation. I think these words may best be taken as spoken by the Israelites, for since they had been brought up on the teachings of Moses and were familiar with all the prophets had foretold, they expected a saviour and redeemer, who is our Lord Jesus Christ come at the appointed time. Prompted by the Spirit to prophesy Zechariah, the father of John, declared that a mighty saviour been raised up for his people, and Simeon likewise when he received the holy infant in his hands said: My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people.

And so, recognizing as the hope of our race the Saviour and Redeemer foretold long before, they will cry out in the words the Prophet: Behold, our God, and will proclaim that God will give rest upon this mountain. The mountain referred to must surely be the Church, for it is there that rest is given. We have heard the words of Christ: Come to me, all who are weary and overburdened and I will give you rest. By faith in Christ we have laid aside the grievous, the insupportable burden of sin. And we have been given rest in another way too, for we have been delivered from dread of the punishment we should have had to suffer for our sins. Nor are these the only effects of the presence in us of the grace of Christ our Saviour. We have in addition the hope of blessings yet to come, the kingdom of heaven, eternal life, and freedom from every cause of distress.

Musical Selection

Now is eternal life,

If risen with Christ we stand,

In him to life reborn,

And holden in his hand;

No more we fear death's ancient dread,

In Christ arisen from the dead.

And (For) God, the living God,

Stooped down to man's estate;

By death destroying death,

Christ opened wide life's gate:

He lives, who died; he reigns on high;

Who lives in him shall never die.

Unfathomed love divine,

Reign thou within my heart;

From thee nor depth nor height,

Nor life nor death can part;

My life is hid in God with thee,

Now and through all eternity.

Prayer

O God, the maker and redeemer of all,

grant us, and all the faithful departed,

the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion

and glorious resurrection;

that in the last day,

when you gather up all things in Christ,

we may with them enjoy the fullness of your promises;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever. Amen.

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