Salvation on this day has come to all the world. Let us sing and praise Him Who rose from the tomb and Who is also the Author of Life. Having vanquished death by His own Death this victory He bestowed on us and the great mercy.
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:9-10
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of Life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Acts 3:14-15
O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy 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.
I Corinthians 15:55-56
There is a hymn that is sung between the Doxology and the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. On a feast day, it is the hymn of that particular feast or saint. For instance, on the feast of St. Anthony (January 17), it will be his hymn that is sung between the Doxology and the Divine Liturgy, alerting us to the fact that the Divine Liturgy on that day is celebrated in memory and in honor of him.
Every Sunday with the exception of when a feast of the Lord falls on a Sunday (and also Palm Sunday, Pentecost), we are celebrating the Resurrection of Christ in addition to any saints that may be commemorated on that day. The hymn inserted between the Doxology and the beginning of the Divine Liturgy is called “Simeron Sotiria” or “Salvation on this day.” It is a hymn that highlights the Resurrection of Christ. Because of the Resurrection (what we are remembering on this day, Sunday), salvation has come to all the world. Our response is to “sing and praise Him Who rose from the dead.” We sing and praise not only in words/hymns but in actions. One purpose in worshipping each Sunday is to affirm what we believe—that Jesus rose from the tomb and is also the Author of Life, God—and to recommit ourselves to living out the Christian life in a way that honors our Lord and that moves us one step closer to our ultimate victory, salvation, which is granted through the great mercy of God. We should leave the Divine Liturgy inspired and motivated for another week on our Christian journey.
The fact that Jesus “vanquished death by His own death” is a reason for hope for each of us. Physical death is no longer an end, but a doorway through which we pass in order to enter eternal life. What was once viewed as the ultimate defeat, death, is now the ultimate victory. Because of Christ’s Resurrection, we know that it is possible for someone to rise from the dead to a better life. And this is the goal and the focus of the Christian life. Just as Jesus had an earthly ministry, we also have an earthly ministry. Just as Jesus died, we are also going to die. And just as Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of the Father, this too can be our journey. We will not walk the earth again after we die, as Christ did for forty days. But the opportunity to ascend to God is there for all of us, first to judgment, and then if judged worthy by His “great mercy,” then to arise in glory and sit at the right hand of God forever.
This leads to a question we should all pause and reflect on frequently: Where are you on your journey to salvation today? There are people who think only about the future and lose out on things today. There are others who think only about today and don’t think about the big picture. And there are still others who think only about the past, stuck in past regret or failure or frustration. The solution for past failure is repentance, which in the Orthodox Church is aided by the absolution offered at confession. The future, how much life we have ahead of us, is unknown to any of us. Which brings us to the present. We are stewards of our present, of this day. And a small step towards salvation should be taken each day. We take these steps with prayer, Scripture reading, fasting, obedience to the commandments, service to others, taking care of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, with discipline, with purpose and also with joy. Because of the Resurrection we have a chance for salvation. And in this day that the Lord has made with us, we are to do something on this day to advance us towards salvation. A worthy question to ponder at the beginning of each day is “What small step can I take in my journey to salvation today?” A worthy question for the end of each day is “Was I successful in taking a step towards my salvation today?” or “Was today a day I took a step forward or a step backward in my journey to salvation?” Then, just like the five wise maidens in Matthew 25 who slept when the bridegroom was late in coming, confident that there was enough oil in their lamps for whenever he arrived, we can go about our days with joy and confidence that whenever the Lord comes for us, we have prepared because we are actively working on our salvation on a daily basis.
Lord, we read in the Psalms “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Help me to find joy and gladness in this day. Help me be grateful and aware that this day is a blessing You have given to me. On this day, help me take a small step towards my salvation. Bring into my mind thoughts of salvation on a consistent basis. When I take a step backward, help me not to get too down but to be resolute to take new steps in the right direction. Thank You for the gift of salvation You have brought to the world through Your crucifixion and Resurrection. And as You came into the home of Zacchaeus, bringing salvation to Him and all His household, help me to find You when I’m lost, and seek me when I can’t seem to or don’t seem to want to find You. Amen.
A worthy question to ponder today is: “Where are you in your journey to salvation, and what strides can you make today?”
