The Reign of Life Has Begun

In these few sentences, we are introduced to the dying dilemma of Ivan Ilyich in Leo Tolstoy’s novel, The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Ivan was a man who had “everything;” yet in reality, he had nothing, for he did not have Christ is his life. He was very much like the young ruler (Matthew 19:16-26; Mark 10:17-23; Luke 18:18-27) who came to Christ asking for guidance on how to inherit eternal life, but upon hearing that God should have priority in his life over everything else, walks away from the Life and becomes a lonely and dying man.

Unlike the young ruler who grasped the emptiness of his life outside of physical suffering, Ivan’s deep reflection is triggered only by his realization that he was dying. He had no anchor in his life to hold on to, that might see him through his trial. Ivan suffered even more as he wrestled with the moral dilemma of his failed and wasted life.

Up until his illness, Ivan had spent his entire life climbing the ladder of social prominence, economic gain and occupational power. He first was an examining magistrate, and then a public prosecutor. In his life he had everything, e.g., friends, a desirable job, family, etc. Life’s difficulties never really seemed to stick to him.

Now Ivan was lying in bed, suffering not so much physically, but rather spiritually for he had no spiritual foundation in his life. He had learned to face everything with courage and self-assurance, but not with prayer and hope in Christ. Now that he faced his own death, all that he knew and experienced seemed to be useless. Ivan needed someone. He needed the Risen Lord.

How many people out there are like Ivan, who go on with their life without God? How many don’t take the time to ponder on the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”? Really, how many are ready to accept the answer to this life’s essential question? Alas, how many people truly know that the answer to these questions is our Risen Lord!

St. Gregory of Nyssa writes: “The reign of life has begun, the tyranny of death is ended.”

With Christ’s resurrection, the tyranny of death is stopped. With Christ’s resurrection, death has been destroyed. With Christ’s resurrection, the reign of life has begun. Christ, with his resurrection, has liberated mankind from the fear of death by conquering the power of death.

So, let this Pascha season not go by us without purifying our senses and beholding Christ, radiant with the unapproachable light of the Resurrection. Indeed, Christ did destroy the power of Hades, and did arise as Victor.

This Pascha season, we are given an opportunity to start anew, i.e., to start a life in the light of Christ’s resurrection and to have life with Christ as we are supposed to have it and live it. Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Protopresbyter Bratso Krsic