Vigils Reading

OUR PART IN THE PASSOVER

From a homily by St Gregory Nazianzen

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We are soon going to share in the Passover, and although we still do so

only in a symbolic way, the symbolism already has more clarity than it

possessed in former times, because under the law, the Passover was, if I may

dare to say so, only a symbol of a symbol. Before long, however, when the Word

drinks the new wine with us in the kingdom of his Father, we shall be keeping

the Passover in a yet more perfect way and with deeper understanding. He will

then reveal to us and make clear what he has so far only partially disclosed. For

this wine, so familiar to us now, is eternally new. It is for us to learn what this

drinking is, and for him to teach us. He has to communicate this knowledge to

his disciples, because teaching is food, even for the teacher.

So let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal

way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way, but

perfectly; not only for a time, but eternally. Let us regard as our home the

heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one, the city glorified by angels, not the one

laid waste by armies. We are not required to sacrifice young bulls or rams,

beasts with horns and hoofs that are more dead than alive and devoid of feeling;

but instead let us join the choirs of angels in offering God upon his heavenly

altar a sacrifice of praise.

We must now pass through the first veil and approach the second, turning

our eyes toward the Holy of Holies. I will say more: we must sacrifice ourselves

to God each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the

sake of the Word, imitating his passion by our sufferings, and honoring his

blood by shedding our own. We must be ready to be crucified.

If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you

are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief,

acknowledge your God. For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself

was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship

him who hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there

yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with

your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen.

Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in

his blasphemy.

If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his

crucifixion, and ask for Christ’s body. Make your own the expiation for the

sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshiped

God by night, bring spices and prepare Christ’s body for burial. If you are one

of the Mary’s or Salome or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to

see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.