“and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.” – IOTW Report

“and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.”

CTH: From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday.

What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam’s son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden. more here

17 Comments on “and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.”

  1. This gets more meaningful as time goes on. The power of prayer and faith was made clear to me a couple years ago. My wife is still with me, and she could have easily been lost, and I’m so grateful! Amen!

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  2. And I’m not suggesting that prayer and faith alone saved her, but expert medical professionals and Barbara’s belief that she had the support and prayers of those that loved her made a significant difference in her belief that there was hope. Prayer and faith is real. My wife is healthy and doing well.

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  3. My Slovakian grandparents Easter greeting:
    Chrystos voskrese (Christ is risen)

    Response: Voistynu voskres (Truly, he is risen)

    Wishing you all a blessed Easter.

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  4. I will eat bread and drink grape juice in memory of He who suffered and bore great pain so that I – unworthy as I clearly am – can LIVE FOREVER!
    HALLELUJAH!

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  5. Jesus is risen by the power of God that He will demonstrate in a few short years. He is risen indeed and His return is soon.

    20 ¶ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
    21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
    22 For as in Adam all die, so also in fnChrist all will be made alive.
    23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
    24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.
    25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
    26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

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  6. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

    Romans 10:9 King James

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  7. The harrowing of hell I am guessing will be the focus of Gibson’s new movie, The Passion of the Christ – Resurrection. I have recently become fascinated by this part of the Easter Story. Thanks MJA! Happy Easter

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  8. Happy Resurrection Day, everyone! Christ has risen from the grave.
    He fulfilled his loving promise to make a way for man to know God and be saved from sin, eternal damnation – to have life more abundantly. Thank you, Lord! Praises to you always! Hallelujah! Hosanna!

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  9. “Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the Righteousness of God.
    2 Corinthians5:20-21

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