In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
Holy and Great SaturdayOf all the days the Holy and Great Forty Day Fast is the most distinguished, but more than the Holy Forty Day Fast the Holy and Great Passion Week is exalted, and more than the days of Holy Week Great and Holy Saturday is the most exalted. This week is called great not because these days or hours are more exalted but because the great, portentous and extraordinary deeds of our Savior were accomplished during this week, but especially on this day.
“>Holy Saturday… It seems that the whole world is silent, anticipating the Resurrection of Christ. We see nature itself truly rejoice and seem to freeze solemnly on this day. And the hearts of Christians—especially those who have spent this period in the feats of prayer and fasting—are filled with quiet joy. In a sense, this joy is a little more solemn than everything that will follow later, because there is still such a great hope and foretaste of this wonderful event—the most important feast of the Church.
But it is very important for us Christians in these hours and days to preserve all that we have gained during Lent, despite our weakness, and it is imperative that we remember three things.
Firstly, of course, the celebration of Pascha should not be reduced to a physical joy for us, which inevitably leads to physical suffering. And it often happens that people have been fasting throughout Lent, but then, sated with food and drink, in just a few hours they lose all the spiritual and physical lightness that they have acquired. The next morning they are already not so happy to exchange Paschal greetings. We really need to try and avoid this.
First and foremost, these words are addressed to those who have observed Lent for the first time in their lives or have just begun to do so. It is with them that such unexpected and disappointing falls very often occur after such spiritual victories. We should try to avoid this, keeping in mind that it is a primarily spiritual joy. It is in the Spirit that we must seek solace and our meeting with Christ.
Secondly, we must remember that the feast of the Resurrection of Christ is not a one-day celebration. It will last throughout Bright Week, followed by many other spiritually important events in the Church; and we should participate in them. This is a genuine feast, this is the Divine banquet that the Lord has prepared for us.
And in these days, let us try not to deprive ourselves of being in church, of Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and of participation in prayer—and then we will see what the true joy and triumph of the Risen Christ is in our lives, in the life of the Church, and in the lives of our neighbors.
And thirdly, it must be remembered during these Paschal days that our meetings, festivities, meals, and trips that we arrange at this time must necessarily be combined with works of mercy and love. Actually, this tradition has always existed among Christians, and in Russia too—on Paschal days people tried to visit those who were having a hard time and who especially needed our Christian love.
These are the three things I wanted to say today, on this great and joyful day. And I wish everyone not to lose this spiritual sweetness, this spiritual fire, this warmth, this grace, which we, despite our sinfulness and unworthiness, by the grace of God, have acquired (if only in some small measure) during the days of Lent. Let us preserve this wealth, which will be useful to us in both earthly and eternal life, more than any banquets, holidays, or any food and drink. The real food and drink is the Body and Blood of Christ, and the grace of the Holy Spirit that the Lord gives us in a special way during these Paschal days. Amen.
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