Dear brothers and sisters!
The first words of the Risen Savior, directed to the people, was a greeting, a call, and a direction for life: “Rejoice!”
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks for everything—the apostle Paul confirms these words, which he came to know through his own long and personal experience in life (1 Thess. 5:16–18). Having experienced persecution, serious illnesses, loss of friends, betrayal by disciples, and finally martyrdom, the apostle nevertheless unwaveringly proclaims the main thing that he learned in life: Only completely and totally entrusting yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ will bring victory, and what is incomparably better than anything earthly—spiritual joy.
The Lord lives, and holds the fate of the world in His hands! His Holy Church lives, enlightening and strengthening the believing and faithful with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice! And no one can take this joy away from us. It is about something infinitely more! It is about Christ’s victory over all evil in this world and over death itself. It is the threshold to eternal life, and it is given for strength and victory to us, the weak and sinful children of the Heavenly Father, to Whom every child He has sent to earth is precious.
Rejoice! Christ is Risen!
Source: Orthodox Christianity
