Contributor Post Created with Sketch. ‘Hell Took a Body, and Discovered God’

Jon Gabriel, Ed.
By Jon Gabriel, Ed.
Jon Gabriel, Ed. King
Jon Gabriel (a.k.a., @ExJon on Twitter) is the Editor-in-Chief of Ricochet. He is a political writer and marketing consultant, contributing articles to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and USA Today among others. Until 2012, he served as Director of Marketing for the free-market Goldwater Institute, where he converted policy initiatives into compelling stories. In the private sector, Jon led marketing efforts for Cold Stone Creamery, Honeywell, and several technology companies. In his… [more]
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14 COMMENTS
 

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
“You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

— The Easter sermon of St. John Chrysostom
Archbishop of Constantinople, ca. 400 A.D.

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  1. Merina Smith Inactive
    Merina Smith

    Amen and Amen. A joyous Easter to you and your family, Jon, and to all here on Ricochet.

    • #1
    • April 3, 2015, at 5:22 PM PDT
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  2. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Contributor
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake

    My favorite Easter sermon.

    You stole my idea, though. I’m usually the one who posts something on this sermon during Easter weekend ;-)

    • #2
    • April 3, 2015, at 5:28 PM PDT
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  3. Stad Coolidge
    Stad

    Amen!

    • #3
    • April 3, 2015, at 5:34 PM PDT
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  4. Susan in Seattle Member
    Susan in Seattle Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Thank you so much for this!

    • #4
    • April 3, 2015, at 5:36 PM PDT
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  5. Aaron Miller Member
    Aaron Miller Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Thanks Jon. Amen!

    • #5
    • April 3, 2015, at 5:41 PM PDT
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  6. KC Mulville Inactive
    KC Mulville

    I’m confused. For some reason, I don’t think that has anything to do with same-sex marriage.

    I appreciate that, by the way.

    • #6
    • April 3, 2015, at 5:53 PM PDT
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  7. Mark Reilly Member
    Mark Reilly

    Great preaching from a master at the craft. Thanks for putting it out there.

    • #7
    • April 3, 2015, at 6:08 PM PDT
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  8. Percival Thatcher
    Percival Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

    But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

    Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

    Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

    – Luke 23:39-43

    • #8
    • April 3, 2015, at 6:18 PM PDT
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  9. Jim Chase Member
    Jim Chase Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Amen.

    • #9
    • April 3, 2015, at 7:05 PM PDT
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  10. David Williamson Inactive
    David Williamson

    Yeah, but what is his opinion of Pizza delivery to Gay weddings?

    Dude, that was like two centuries ago – they didn’t even have Pizza.

    Or, did they?

    • #10
    • April 3, 2015, at 9:53 PM PDT
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  11. Profile Photo Member

    So appreciate this, Jon! Blessed Easter!

    • #11
    • April 3, 2015, at 10:32 PM PDT
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  12. Profile Photo Member

    Thank you.

    • #12
    • April 4, 2015, at 6:21 AM PDT
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  13. Fjordhopper Inactive
    Fjordhopper

    I just preached this at our Easter Vigil. It’s among my favorite sermons of all time!

    • #13
    • April 4, 2015, at 8:23 PM PDT
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  14. Manny Member
    Manny

    I’ve never actually read that though I’m familiar with a number of lines in there. Now I know where they came from. Thanks a bunch!

    • #14
    • April 6, 2015, at 6:21 AM PDT
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