If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
…even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me fast.
(Ps 138 [139]:8-10)
On Easter day the Church tells us that Jesus Christ made that journey
to the depths of Hades for our sake. In St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
we read that he had also descended to the depths of the earth; He who
descended is also the one who has ascended far above all the heavens, that he
might fill all things (Eph. 4:9).
The vision of the Psalm thus became reality. In the impenetrable darkness of
death, Christ came like light; the night is as bright as the day, for
darkness is as light to you (Ps 138[139]:12). And so we can rightly consider
this psalm of thanksgiving and trust, as words spoken by the Risen Lord to his
Father: “Yes, I have journeyed to the uttermost depths of the earth, to the
abyss of death, and brought them light; now I have risen and I am upheld for
ever by your hands.”
But these words, of the Risen Christ, to the Father have also become words
which the Lord speaks to us: “I arose and now I am still with you” he says to
each of us. My hand upholds you. Wherever you may fall, you will always fall
into my hands. I am present even at the door of death; where no one can
accompany you further and where you can bring nothing, even there I am waiting
for you, and for you I will change darkness into light.
Let us, my brethren, not be afraid to hold His hand.
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
Fr. Nicholas Dassouras
