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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16 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.

Happy Easter, Ricochet!

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  1. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend

    Happy Easter To All The Good Folk Who Make Up The Ricochet Family! 

    Blessing to you All! 

    • #1
    • April 1, 2018, at 2:52 AM PDT
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    • 6 likes
  2. zandertunz Member
    zandertunz

    Amen! Rejoice evermore! 

    • #2
    • April 1, 2018, at 3:34 AM PDT
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    • 7 likes
  3. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte

    He has risen. He has risen indeed ! Amen

    Happy Easter everyone. 

    • #3
    • April 1, 2018, at 5:51 AM PDT
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    • 7 likes
  4. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles

    Happy Easter, Jon and all the Ricochetti

    • #4
    • April 1, 2018, at 5:53 AM PDT
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    • 8 likes
  5. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat

    Jesus, the perfect Lamb without sin, took on all sin and crushed it, he overcame death and hell itself, and rose again, his risen body witnessed by thousands, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. His promise is real, and all that is going on in the world has no hold on those who believe His promise of everlasting life – Finish the race strong – God bless and Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection! 

    • #5
    • April 1, 2018, at 6:14 AM PDT
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  6. SuzanneHelmick Coolidge
    SuzanneHelmick

    Christ has Risen! Truly He has Risen!

    • #6
    • April 1, 2018, at 6:36 AM PDT
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    • 8 likes
  7. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Contributor
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake

    When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

    “Where, O death, is your victory?
    “Where, O death, is your sting?”

    The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

    • #7
    • April 1, 2018, at 7:25 AM PDT
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    • 8 likes
  8. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Amen

    • #8
    • April 1, 2018, at 7:28 AM PDT
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    • 6 likes
  9. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue

    Christos anesti! Er ist wahrhaftig auferstanden! 

     

    • #9
    • April 1, 2018, at 7:32 AM PDT
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    • 4 likes
  10. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Sang my favorite Easter Hymn today (as we do every Easter)

    He Lives!

    • #10
    • April 1, 2018, at 7:39 AM PDT
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    • 8 likes
  11. Dad Dog Member
    Dad Dog

    Hear the bells ringing . . .

    • #11
    • April 1, 2018, at 7:54 AM PDT
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    • 8 likes
  12. Anamcara Member
    Anamcara

    Jon, Thank you for posting this. 

    Happy Easter

    • #12
    • April 1, 2018, at 10:27 AM PDT
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    • 3 likes
  13. Deborah Oakes Member
    Deborah Oakes

    Amen

     

    • #13
    • April 1, 2018, at 11:00 AM PDT
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    • 3 likes
  14. Layla Member
    Layla Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    This remarkable Paschal Homily is read aloud in Orthodox churches all over the world on Easter. Presumably because long ago some priests determined that you really can’t improve upon perfection. :)

    Though today is Palm Sunday for us, I rejoice with all of you and confess, Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! A very blessed Easter to you all. :) 

    • #14
    • April 1, 2018, at 11:47 AM PDT
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  15. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne

    Death can go suck an egg.

    • #15
    • April 1, 2018, at 9:11 PM PDT
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    • 1 like
  16. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler

    Layla (View Comment):

    This remarkable Paschal Homily is read aloud in Orthodox churches all over the world on Easter. Presumably because long ago some priests determined that you really can’t improve upon perfection. :)

    Though today is Palm Sunday for us, I rejoice with all of you and confess, Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! A very blessed Easter to you all. :)

    Should not the Canon be enlarged to include this?

    • #16
    • April 2, 2018, at 4:03 PM PDT
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    • 1 like

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