“YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE” Psalm 16:11

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

"YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE" [Psalm 16:11].

Psalm 16:11 is also interpreted as "You will show me the ways of life; In Your
presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forever."

This psalm is referred to as Messianic psalm quoted twice in the Acts of the Apostles, by Saint Peter and by Saint Paul. In both cases, the holy Apostles in their preaching assure us the reference is not to David, who died and saw corruption, but to Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Verse 3 is often used in Orthodox services honoring the saints, the "excellent ones" who are a "delight" to the Lord. This present prophecy deals with the calling of the Gentiles, and with disobedience of Israel. It also refers to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind.

In Acts 2:25 states: "For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heat rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades. Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made know to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ And Saint Paul continues, "he, foreseeing this spoke concerning the Resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor died His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear" [vs. 31-33]. The age of the Kingdom of the Trinitarian God begins with the Ascension of Christ into the Heavens, His ENTHRONEMENT AT THE "RIGHT HAND" of God the Father, and the OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Saint Paul writes: "Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not reason, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, Whom did not raise up–if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, YOUR FAITH IS FUTILE; YOUR ARE STILL IN YOUR SINS! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most pitiable."

What is Christianity WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION–both Christ’s and ours? His death does us no good without the Resurrection. What use is forgiveness if we remain dead? His holy Disciples were TRANSFORMED BY HIS RESURRECTION and this they preached above all. On Pascha morning Orthodox Christians chant: "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life." [Greek: Χριστός Ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι, ζωήν χαρισάμενος) As "the first fruits" in the Old Testament were consecrated in God representative of the promise of later fruits [Exodus 23:16], so the RESURRECTION OF JESUS FROM THE DEAD IS THE FIRST OFFERING OF THE RESURRECTION OF ALL WHO ARE HIS. "But each one in his own order Christ the firstfruits, AFTERWARD THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING" [v. 23].

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is "THE FOUNDATION AND THE CROWN OF OUR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH. The Resurrection of Christ is the first, most important, great truths, with the proclamation of which the Holy Apostles began their preaching of the Gospel after the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Just as by the death of Christ on the Cross our Redemption was accomplished, so by His Resurrection "eternal life was given to us." Therefore, the Resurrection of Christ is the object of the Church’s constant triumph, its unceasing rejoicing, which reaches its summit in the Feast of the Holy Christian Pasca– "Today all creation is glad and rejoices, for Christ has risen!" [Canon of Pascha, Canticle 9].

The saving fruits of the Resurrection of Christ are:

(a) the victory over hell and death, (b) the blessedness of the Saints in heaven and the beginning of the existence of the Heavenly Church; and (c) the sending down of the Holy Spirit and the creation of the Church of Christ on earth.

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George