The Radical Hospitality of God

by the Revd Canon Dr William Lamb

In the late fourth century, John Chrysostom became the Archbishop of Constantinople. The name ‘Chrysostom’ means golden-mouthed. He was a formidable preacher and occasionally his preaching got him into trouble. He was eventually exiled for offending leading members of the Byzantine court. One of his most memorable sermons was preached on Easter Day. This Paschal Homily is still preached in every Orthodox church each year. It is a sermon which always moves me, because it speaks of the radical hospitality of God. Chrysostom places this radical hospitality at the heart of the Easter faith.

If you are devout, enjoy this festival. If you are wise, enter into the Lord’s joy.

If you have fasted, this feast is for you. If you have toiled from the first hour, receive you’re your reward.

If you came at the third hour, then celebrate anyway.

If you arrived after the sixth, don’t worry for a moment. You have lost nothing.

If you came as late as the ninth hour, then come, don’t hold back.

If any of you arrived only at the eleventh hour, then the Lord waits to be gracious to you.

For the Lord accepts the last even as the first.

He gives rest to those of the eleventh as well as to those who have laboured from the first.

If you are rich or if you are poor,

if you are sober or if you are reckless,

if you are upright or you feel completely unworthy,

if you are a paragon of virtue or just a poor and humble sinner,

if you fasted piously through the season of Lent, and even if you didn’t, this table is prepared for you.

And the table is full, everyone is welcome to sit and eat. No one will go away hungry.

Everyone can enjoy this feast and relish the riches of God’s goodness

– because the Lord is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

A very happy Easter to you all.