Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America
“Live as children of light. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (Ephesians 5:8-9). The mystery of the magnificent Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the unrepeatable miracle of all times, before which humanity bowed and drew a new path of life in order to live with God and to become a co-servant with Christ. He came to this world to serve humanity, by bringing to us all the Divine Light. Those who are guided by this Light fill their lives with “goodness, righteousness and truth.”
The Resurrection of Christ enflames in our soul the miraculous light of the knowledge of God, so that we may look at life given to us with a fresh perspective. Let us look at our multi-coloured, multi-dimensional, sometimes chaotic, but optimistic life as part of the limitless vision of God, as an inseparable part of the mosaic of God’s Creation.
The Resurrection of Christ becomes meaningful only if we experience it as a new spiritual dawn in our deep inner world. It becomes meaningful when it transfigures our spiritual life by rediscovering ourselves and reaffirms our Christian faith.
As Christians we should first and foremost remember, in the words of the Apostle, that “we are temples of God and God’s Spirit dwells in us through the Holy Font of baptism.” Therefore, we have to be mindful of committing sins and stay away from soul-destroying addictions. Let us adorn our souls with virtuous deeds, especially through goodness and charitable works, because charity is the biggest virtue sanctified in the Christian faith.
Through the inspiration of the meaning of the Resurrection, we shall love our Holy Mother Church, which, as Patriarch Mesrop Naroyan noted, “gave us the truth of the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the basis of the [Church’s] strength, vitality and authority.” The Armenian Church, dear faithful, is our most sacred and inalienable divine heritage, and the testimony of moral renewal which our ancestors have transmitted to us.
To celebrate Christ’s Resurrection means to become a living Church, with creative vitality.
The life-giving Resurrection of Christ is an invitation to young couples for a sacred mission: to have the vision to create, to give birth to the Armenian Family, where the spirit of Christianity and Divine wisdom will rule, and our national ethos and consciousness will be ever present; but most important, where there will be a sense of service and commitment to raise children with faith in God. It is not accidental that it is said that “child rearing, education starts from the crib.” This significant mission is complimented by the Armenian School, where the teachers, with the same sense of parental care and understanding, educate our children with love and dedication.
“Life is first in the home. It is where spouses bond, children are cared for by parents, family and relatives are consoled by each other. Love in these relationships assures the life of the family, leads to loyalty and legitimacy. Through love the family home becomes an abode of happiness; without love, it turns into a dungeon. Sustain your family love,” exhorts Patriarch Malachia Ormanian.
The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is a source of boundless strength, especially for our youth, who face daily challenges of modern living. While they must succeed in their studies and careers, they must also be aware of their duties as citizens and keep the Armenian spirit vibrant in their lives. All these require serious sense of responsibility, as young people struggle against the current. While keeping their national-church character resilient, they ought to also overcome the challenges presented to them by life.
The celebration of Christ’s life-giving Resurrection would be meaningless if we do not see it as part of our daily life. It would be like fading the light of the soul or taking off the armour of light which we put on at our baptism. Indeed, this is why the Apostle exhorts that in life “we must become children of light.” The effects of the light of the Resurrection is goodness, justice and truth. We become the defenders of these virtues as children of light and as bearers of the Divine light. This is the calling of the Armenian: that we should live our lives as St. Paul the Apostle says “through attention, justice and worship.”
Dear Armenian Christian, as we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, we are undoubtedly illuminated by His light. With the power of this same light, we may chase the darkness away and fill each moment of our God-given life with that miracle. But, the light of Christ’s Resurrection should not be contained in our life only. That light should shine abundantly, in words and deeds, as a mirror reflection to illuminate the lives of our brothers and sisters who have imprisoned themselves in the darkness. This should be inspired by divine love, national consciousness and universal human values. The meaning of Christ’s Resurrection is in this understanding.
“Christ is Risen from the dead; Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!”
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian
April 2014
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