Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

At the Agape Vespers every Pascha, we read the Gospel lesson where Jesus appears to the disciples who were hiding in the upper room. We learn that Thomas was not present for this encounter. Later, the disciples tell Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” And we hear his response that I will not believe unless I “see in his hands the print of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side.” (John 20:25). In our parishes, we will hear this story told in many languages, and we pride ourselves in reporting that it was told in 5, 10, 15 or even more languages. Of course, the Gospel should be told in many languages, but why do we tell this particular story in so many, when we could tell other stories about the resurrection? Scholars will write treatises and offer their historic analyses of this practice so that we may know about how our liturgical customs developed over time.

But as I read the passage, and listen to the Gospel being read in so many languages, one phrase continues to pierce my consciousness: “We have seen the Lord.”  

Each reader bears witness to the resurrection in a different language, for a different group of people, demonstrating the universality of the message of the Good News that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, has risen from the dead and was seen by his followers. From one end of the earth to another, to all cultures, languages, and peoples this is our proclamation. Each of us is called to say to someone, in any language, “We have seen the Lord!” Each one of us is called to bear joyful witness to that message, to spread the Good News that “Christ is risen!” to all nations.

After the devastating events of the arrest and the trial, the horrific events of the passion and crucifixion, the disciples were certainly afraid for themselves, but at the same time deeply saddened. As we read in the Gospel of Luke, they had believed and “hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). Then none of this came to pass they expected.

So, the news from the women who had gone to the tomb on the first day of the week, must have been truly incredible, that is truly unbelievable. We can only imagine how they felt when Jesus appeared to them that evening, in the upper room. St. John Chrysostom lifts up Jesus’ words, “I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22, in Chrysostom’s Homily on John 86) to remind us of the joy that the apostles must have felt and wanted to share with others.

The resurrection of Jesus inaugurated a new reality for his followers, all of us. It is a new beginning for us to consider. Thomas’ declaration that he would not believe that Jesus had risen unless he touched His wounds reminds us that in the resurrection, Jesus continued to bear the marks of His crucifixion. The new creation brought about through the resurrection is still marked by its old wounds. And as St. Paul wrote, we have Christ and we are in Christ, through the resurrection, and also the new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). St. Paul teaches us that we are made anew by sharing in the resurrection of Christ in a resurrection of ourselves like him.  As he writes, ‘If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” (Romans 6:8)

This is the promise of the resurrection – to live a new life, “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Thus, not just a greeting but a message that our lives have been transformed by the experience of the risen Christ. In the Liturgy of Pascha, in our lit candles, recalling our baptism in Christ, in our celebrations with family and friends, the joy of resurrection should fill our hearts, allowing us to share the joy of the news with others, no matter what language they speak. This joy becomes love and concern for all around us, our neighbor and our world because Christ is risen and all things are made new. Because, “we have seen the Lord!”

Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη!  
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Χρόνια Πολλά!