Have you ever thought how an accursed instrument of death could be transformed by the death of one person into the brightest symbol of life? If Christ can transform the cross by the shedding of his blood then how much more can he transform your life if you let him?
From the matins of the resurrection service: “a sacred Pascha is shown to us today; a new holy Pascha and all venerable Pascha, a Pascha which is Christ the Redeemer; a spotless Pascha; a great Pascha ; a Pascha of the faithful; a Pascha which has opened to us the gates of Paradise; a Pascha sanctifying all the faithful” and “a Pascha of the light; a Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha; and all venerable Pascha has dawned for us; a Pascha on which, let us embrace one another with joy. Oh! Pascha, redemption from sorrow! For from the tomb today, as through a bridal chamber, Christ has shone forth, and filled the women with joy, saying proclaim it to the apostles.”
Why is it that we have unquestioning and embracing faith in technology but resist faith in Christ? Perhaps it may be because we are uplifted by the idea that we created technology and technology thus becomes our creature. With that in mind it becomes difficult to consider a belief in God because that belief no longer makes us masters of our own destiny but rather creatures of another more powerful than us – and that is something that we do not countenance.
Why is it that we consider it an entitlement to receive, an imposition to give and get angry when we call on God to grant us something and not receive? Perhaps St John Chrysostom got it right when he said that when you are weary of praying and do not receive then consider how often you have heard a poor man calling upon you and you have not listen to him yet this poor man has not been angry nor insulted you. So, from that example let us all await patiently, without anger and without expectation for the good things to come.
From Romans 5:18 – 19″ therefore, as through one man’s offence (Adam) judgement came to all men (death) resulting in condemnation, even so through one man’s (Christ) righteous act the free gift of all came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience many were made righteous.”