Sitting at a Feast

From "A Gatering of Spiritual Riches" by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

"Those sitting and feasting at a distinguished supper of this world are dressed in bright and beautiful clothing. So it will be also at that splendid and magnificent heavenly supper. Those attending will be dressed in the robe of salvation and the clothing of gladness, and clothed "in garments of gold" (Ps 44:10, 14), clothed in clean and bright linen. "And to her, that is, the Church, it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints, says St. John in his Revelation" (Rev 19:8). Christ, our Saviour, also showed this by the glorification of His holy Body on Mount Tabor, where "His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Matt 17:2). There the bodies of God's saints will conform to the glorified Body of Christ, of which the holy Apostle assures us, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Phil 3:20-21).

And Christ Himself says, "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt 13:43). Christian! Let us pray to the Lightgiver Christ, and may He grant us the bright robe of justification, and let us attend this supper with His elect. "I see Thy bridal chamber adorned, O my Savior, and I have no wedding garment that I may enter there. Make the robe of my soul to shine, O Giver of Light, and save me" (Hymn from the Bridegroom Matins)."

Brothers and Sisters, let us do all we can to be present at this great Feast. Amen. (Fr.P)