HELL IS FILLED WITH BITTERNESS

 HELL IS FILLED WITH BITTERNESS

Last night I found some great words about bitterness and hell in the words of John Chrysostom’s well regarded Paschal Sermon. I will share the last two stanzas of this classic without any commentary.

He has destroyed death by undergoing death.

He despoiled hell by descending into hell.

He vexed it even as it tasted of HIS flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he cried:

Hell was filled with bitterness when it met thee face to face below;

Filled with bitterness, for it was brought to nothing;

Filled with bitterness, for it was mocked;

Filled with bitterness, for it was overthrown;

Filled with bitterness, for it was put into chains.

Hell received a body, and encountered God. It received earth, and confronted heaven.

O death, where is your sting?

O hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen! And you, o death are annihilated!

Christ is risen! And the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is risen. And the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen! And life is liberated!

Christ is risen! And the tomb is emptied of its dead;

For Christ having risen from the dead,

Is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To HIM be Glory and Power, now and forever, and from all ages to all ages. Amen!