How the Joy of the Easter Season Works at Work...continued...
We're talking about how joy remains at the center of our spiritual life throughout the Easter Season, and how that fits into our work. Our source today, as last time, is an Easter sermon of St. John Chrysostom. In this next section we see God's overwhelming care and mercy for us. He directly provides the joy of Easter.
"He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention."
"Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!"
Despite our material means, God's pours out his mercy. All receive his invitation to dance. Applying this to our own work, know that God considers our intention to do our best, rather than the results we achieve.
Even those whose who have indulged more than others in the world's pleasures, or whose Lenten discipline was lax, may accept the joyful rewards of the Resurrection:
"O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!Let all partake of the feast of faith.
Let all receive the riches of goodness."
Whether we've achieved more or less material success, rejoice! God rewards the poorest of us, those of us who have suffered failure, even those who haven't always made good and just decisions in our lives, including our daily work.
"Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.""
The darkest fear of death pales in the face of the joy of the Resurrection.
"Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free. He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into hades and took hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted his flesh!
And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!"
It took a body and, face to face, met God!
It took earth and encountered heaven!
It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!"O death, where is thy sting?
O hades, where is thy victory?"Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!"
How many times we face challenging circumstances at work: from being assigned a project that appears beyond our skills and experience; being passed over for a promotion; needing to make more money, being laid off; being subjected to gossip, even lies - add that particular challenge you may be facing today. Imagine Our Lord's response to us taking a moment to thank Him for His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Can you, even in the midst of your difficulties, disappointments, your sorrows, thank Him and embrace the joy He brings to all of us during this Easter Season?
Let nothing stand in the way of this joy:
"Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept.
To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen."
"He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention."
"Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.
O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!"
Despite our material means, God's pours out his mercy. All receive his invitation to dance. Applying this to our own work, know that God considers our intention to do our best, rather than the results we achieve.
Even those whose who have indulged more than others in the world's pleasures, or whose Lenten discipline was lax, may accept the joyful rewards of the Resurrection:
"O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!
You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!
The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you!
The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!Let all partake of the feast of faith.
Let all receive the riches of goodness."
Whether we've achieved more or less material success, rejoice! God rewards the poorest of us, those of us who have suffered failure, even those who haven't always made good and just decisions in our lives, including our daily work.
"Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn his transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.""
The darkest fear of death pales in the face of the joy of the Resurrection.
"Let no one fear death, for the Saviour's death has set us free. He that was taken by death has annihilated it!
He descended into hades and took hades captive!
He embittered it when it tasted his flesh!
And anticipating this Isaiah exclaimed, "Hades was embittered when it encountered thee in the lower regions." It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!"
It took a body and, face to face, met God!
It took earth and encountered heaven!
It took what it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen!"O death, where is thy sting?
O hades, where is thy victory?"Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!"
How many times we face challenging circumstances at work: from being assigned a project that appears beyond our skills and experience; being passed over for a promotion; needing to make more money, being laid off; being subjected to gossip, even lies - add that particular challenge you may be facing today. Imagine Our Lord's response to us taking a moment to thank Him for His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Can you, even in the midst of your difficulties, disappointments, your sorrows, thank Him and embrace the joy He brings to all of us during this Easter Season?
Let nothing stand in the way of this joy:
"Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!
For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the First-fruits of them that slept.
To him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen."
Happy Easter!
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