If any man be devout and loves God,
\nLet him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast!
\nIf any man be a wise servant,
\nLet him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.
\nIf any have labored long in fasting,
\nLet him now receive his recompense.
\nIf any have wrought from the first hour,
\nLet him today receive his just reward.
\nIf any have come at the third hour,
\nLet him with thankfulness keep the feast.<\/p>\n
If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
\nLet him have no misgivings;
\nBecause he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
\nIf any have delayed until the ninth hour,
\nLet him draw near, fearing nothing.
\nAnd if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,
\nLet him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.
\nFor the Lord, who is jealous of his honor,
\nWill accept the last even as the first.<\/p>\n
He gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour,
\nEven as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.
\nAnd He shows mercy upon the last,
\nAnd cares for the first;
\nAnd to the one He gives,
\nAnd upon the other He bestows gifts.
\nAnd He both accepts the deeds,
\nAnd welcomes the intention,
\nAnd honors the acts and praises the offering.
\nWherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord;
\nReceive your reward,<\/p>\n
Both the first, and likewise the second.
\nYou rich and poor together, hold high festival!
\nYou sober and you heedless, honor the day!
\nRejoice today, both you who have fasted
\nAnd you who have disregarded the fast.
\nThe table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously.
\nThe calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
\nEnjoy ye all the feast of faith:<\/p>\n
Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.
\nLet no one bewail his poverty,
\nFor the universal Kingdom has been revealed.
\nLet no one weep for his iniquities
\nFor pardon has shown forth from the grave.
\nLet no one fear death,
\nFor the Savior\u2019s death has set us free.<\/p>\n
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.
\nBy descending into Hell,
\nHe made Hell captive.
\nHe embittered it when it tasted of His flesh.
\nAnd Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
\nHell, said he, was embittered
\nWhen it encountered Thee in the lower regions.
\nIt was embittered, for it was abolished.
\nIt was embittered, for it was mocked.
\nIt was embittered, for it was slain.
\nIt was embittered, for it was overthrown.
\nIt was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
\nIt took a body, and met God face to face.
\nIt took earth, and encountered Heaven.
\nIt took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.<\/p>\n
O Death, where is thy sting?
\nO Hell, where is thy victory?
\nChrist is risen, and thou art overthrown!
\nChrist is risen, and the demons are fallen!
\nChrist is risen, and the angels rejoice!
\nChrist is risen, and life reigns!
\nChrist is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
\nFor Christ, being risen from the dead,
\nIs become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
\nTo Him be glory and dominion
\nUnto ages of ages.
\nAmen.<\/p>\n
(Rendered in stanza format by M.C. Steenberg. Please feel free to print, copy, distribute and post this text without need for written permission.)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0 Guest post by St. John Chrysostom If any man be devout and loves God, Let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast! If any man be a wise servant, Let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, Let him now receive his recompense. If […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,36],"tags":[252,271,272,14],"class_list":["post-788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-living","tag-easter","tag-guest-posts","tag-joy","tag-saints"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/6738513599344023043-1155009108707713826?l=yimcatholic.blogspot.com\")