OUR LOVED ONES PASS BY. THEY DO NOT PASS AWAY!

OUR LOVED ONES PASS BY.
THEY DO NOT PASS AWAY!

by
A. Noradunkian
1994

Today we are witnessing the victory of arrogant death, who proudly is  challenging the hope of mankind by saying, "I am the end of all life, I am the annihilation of all essence. Even the ancient gods were not immune to me, the old heroes - Achilles and Hector became victims to my authority and command". Those haughty words and proud challenges were also made at the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. But the life of the Life-Giver did not end at the crossroad of death. Death could not swallow up Life. Life will never turn to tragedy. Life represents the positive dimension of the cosmos when it is ingrained with love.

At every tolling bell there stands the life-giving Jesus Christ saying with certainty, "I am the Resurrection and I am the Life. I have overcome death". This is not a theoretical statement. It is a historical fact whose living proof is the living Church for the last 20 centuries. There is no any other organization in this world which has lasted 20 centuries with so many heroic martyrs, except the Church of Jesus Christ to testify for the fact of the triumphant Resurrection.

Humanity will rise again not because it is righteous, good and holy, but because God loves mankind. Humanity is God's children. God cannot forsake mankind. He cannot abandon it. Humans are His highest creation made in His image. Mankind may become prodigal and may even deny the Lord like St. Peter. But mankind belongs to God, He loves all men and women. God's love and mercy are inexhaustible. God is not covetous or stingy. Rather His loving-kindness, generosity, and mercy are inexhaustible. Humans can endure injustice, pain and misery but there are things which humans can not tolerate and allow, such as hypocrisy, dishonor and death. Death is the adversary, the treason and the violation of life.

Today, God is calling each one of us to believe, to hope, to love and to wait for the day of the Resurrection. Today, mortal man walks with a pain and a sorrow in his heart. But tomorrow, on the day of Resurrection, he will march with a victorious torch of life in hand to his Redeemer and God.

From the Armenian Church Discussion Group