JESUS DESCENDS INTO HELL:
Somethng strange is happening--there is a great silence on earth, a great silence and stillness. The wh9ole earth keeps silence because
the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still becasue God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in theflesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve,
he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon tht had won him the victory. At the sight of hinm Adam, the first man he had creatd, struch his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: "My Lord be with you all." Christ answered him""And with your spirit." He took him by the hand an raised him up, saying: "Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority commandall who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are slooping to arise. I orderyou, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.
Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.
For your sake, I , your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. for your sake, for the sake of man, I became a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.
See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your corrupted nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your bak. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.
I slept on the cross and a sword ierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in ehll. The sword tht pierced me has shathed the sword that was turned against you.
Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will nto restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you asslaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubinm awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity. |
