The risen Christ represents hope for us all

During the reign of the Communist Party of Russia in the Soviet Union, there was a great persecution of Christians. Many Christians were imprisoned as political prisoners.
Once, in one of the worst prison camps in the Soviet Union, the prisoners were living in cells in many levels underground. They never were told if it was night or day. The food they were given was not only bad, but barely enough to feed a small child, much less an adult man. Prisoners lived in solitary confinement. Communication between the prisoners was inventive and sporadic. Despite these living conditions, the Christian prisoners decided to celebrate the Pascha (Easter) celebration together. Communications were sent to all the Christians in the prison that at midnight on Pascha, everyone would sing, in unity, "Christ is Risen" (the traditional resurrection hymn). A plan was devised as to how to calculate midnight on Pascha so they could celebrate this feast together.
The prisoners then saved bits of their meager meals so they would be able to eat a "Pascha Feast" after they celebrated the resurrection of our Lord.
One of the prisoners, in diary that was found, described his hope as he prepared for this moment. Although the conditions were poor and bleak, this one task gave him the hope, courage and desire to live. When midnight came, he stood up in the middle of his cell in pitch blackness and chanted loudly, with all his strength, the Resurrection hymn.
One can only imagine the joy he felt as he heard other voices all around him as other prisoners joined him in praise to God. Somehow, this plan worked, and they were able to worship together this feast of feasts.
Eating his feast
After he chanted, from memory, as much of the Resurrection service as he remembered, he sat down to eat his Pascha feast. Nothing ever tasted better. Even though it was only a piece of boiled potato and several other inedible foods, the meal tasted like it was fit for a king.
The prisoner then returned joyfully back to his bed, only to be awakened an hour or so later by the distant voices of another group of men from deeper in the earth as they joyfully sang "Christ is Risen!" It seems this group miscalculated their timing of the resurrection midnight hour.
Pascha, this year, for Orthodox Christians throughout the world, is celebrated Sunday. This is the greatest of all feasts. Our Savior came into the world to teach us, to show us the way, to love us, and then to willingly suffer for us -- being tortured, being tried, and then to die for us. But he did not stop here. He rose from the dead to free us! Many may like to concentrate on the suffering Christ. Yet, we must focus on the risen Christ! Our Lord never sinned. By his death he trampled upon death, defeated the evil one, and freed those bound by Satan and gave them eternal life.
Eternal life
This is the same eternal life he offers us today. We may struggle and suffer as the prisoners described in the story I mentioned earlier. Everything in this world is temporary, however. He is the risen Christ that gives us hope, inner peace and true joy. When we rely on him, we will never be disappointed. He loves us all so much. Our Lord and Savior and great God Jesus Christ sees in our hearts and knows what is best for us. He will never let us perish. He lives and dwells within us and offers us an opportunity of eternal salvation.
The Lord said, "I stand at the door and knock ... ." It is up to us to let him in.
May our risen Christ be with us all!
The Rev. Thomas M. Constantine is pastor of St. John the Forerunner Greek Orthodox Church in Boardman.