A rephrasing of St. John Chrysostom's Paschal Homily

         Are any of you devout and God-loving? Then enjoy this fair and radiant triumph.

        Are any of you good and wise servants? Then enter into our Lord’s joy with rejoicing of your own!

        Are any of you wearied from your Lenten fast? If so, receive now your reward!

 

        If any of you labored from the first hour, receive your just payment.

        If you arrived at the third hour, now is the Thankful Feast!

        If you got here at the sixth hour, in no way be doubtful, for in no way will you suffer loss.

        If you were delayed even to the 9^th hour, come on close, neither doubt nor fear a single thing!

        If you tarried until the 11^th hour, don’t let your lateness make you fearful; the Honorable Master receives the last just like the first!

        He gives rest and restoration to the one who comes at the 11^th hour, as well as the laborer who was here since the first hour. He is merciful to the last and pleased by the first! To one he gives, to the other he bestows; He receives work and welcomes intention. He both honors the deed and praises the offering!

 

        Therefore, all y’all enter into the Lord’s joy! 1^st and 2^nd both receive your reward! Rich and Poor, exult together!

 

        You sober and you slothful—honor this day!

        You that kept the fast and you that… well… didn’t… both of you, be glad!

        Look, the table is bows inward with its bounty—delight in it everyone!        The calf is fatted, let no one go hungry.

Let’s all enjoy the feast of faith; the riches of goodness, receive them as a gift.

Let no one anywhere bewail their poverty, for the universal Kingdom is revealed!

Let no one weep for their transgressions, for forgiveness dawned from the tomb!

Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free. It smothered him, and he descended into Hades, and now Hades is his prisoner of war!

It tore into his flesh for a taste, and oh it was bitter!

It’s like Isaiah said, when he cried: "Hades was embittered when it encountered him below."

It was embittered, for it was abolished.

It was embittered, for it was mocked.

It was embittered, for it was slain.

It was embittered, for it was overthrown.

It was embittered, for it was fettered.

It received a body and encountered God.

It received earth and met heaven.

It received that which it saw and fell to what it did not see.

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

Christ is risen, and thou art cast down.

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.

Christ is risen, and life flourisheth.

Christ is risen, and there is none dead in the tombs.

For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of them that have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto the ages of ages. Amen.