This commentary on the Lord’s death and resurrection comes from an ancient homily. It is found in the Greek Fathers (PG 43, 439.451. 462-463), and subtitled “The Descent of the Lord into the Underworld”. My compliments to the author, the translation is mine.
What is this all about? Today there is a grand. silence on the earth; a grand. silence and therefore a loneliness; a grand. silence because the King is asleep; The earth trembled in fear and then became quiet, because God was asleep in the flesh and woke up those who had been sleeping faor centuries. God has died in the flesh and the underworld is disturbed.
Assuredly the first parent, as if a lost sheep, it is for whom God goes looking. All in all, he wants to visit those siting in the darkness and shadow of death; all in all, the captive Adam together with captive Eve, released from sorrows is the one whom God and the Son of God goes to see.
The Lord came to them, holding the victorious arms of the cross. When Adam the first parent sees him, in amazement striking his breast, Adam exclaims to everyone verbally, “My Lord is with everyone.” In answer Christ says to Adam, “And with your spirit. “ Then taking him by the hand he raised him up saying, “Wake up, sleeping one, and rise from the dead and Christ will shed his light on you.”
“I, your God, who for your sake became your son; who for your sake and the sake of those who are descendants of yours, it is I who am now speaking and by my power, I command those who were in chains, ‘Leave’”; and those in darkness, ’Go into the light’; and to the dumbfounded, ‘Get up’”
I command you: “Wake up you who are asleep: for I did not make you to be chained up in the underworld. Rise from the dead; I am life for these who are dead. Rise, O work of my hands; rise, my image who were fashioned in my likeness. Rise, let us go from here; for you in me and I in you are a one and undivided person.
“For your sake I, your God, became your son; for your sake, I, your Lord, took on the likeness of a slave; for our sake, I who am above the heavens, came to earth, even under the earth; for your sake, O human, I became like a human, free without help among the dead; for your sake, (you) who left the garden (of Eden), I was handed over to the Jewish people in a garden (of Gethsemane), and crucified in a garden.
“Look on the spit on my face, which I received because of you, so that I could restore you to your pristine appearance. Look at the slaps on my cheeks which I experienced in order to remake your old and wrinkles face into my image.
“Look at the whip marks on my back which I received in order to remove the burden of your sins that had been imposed on your back. Look at my hands, well-affixed to the wood by nails, for your sake who once did reach out your hand to (the) wood (of the tree) with evil intent.
“I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for your sake who slept in Paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side. MY sleep will lead you out of the sleep of the underworld. My sword has broken the sword that was turned against you (in the garden of Eden).
“Rise, let us get out of here. An enemy led you out of the land of Paradise; but I will put you, no longer on a throne in Paradise, but on a throne in heaven. The enemy took you away from the symbolic tree of life, but, see, I am alive and am one with you. I arranged for you cherubim to watch over you like a servant; I now make the cherubim adore you, as is becoming one who is God.
“Your throne above the cherubim is ready, thn porters are ready and well-trained, your bridal chamber is built, the foods are prepared, the eternal dwelling places and mansions are adorned, storehouses of goods are opened, and the kingdom of heaven before the world began is ready.”
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