Sunday of the fifth week to the fiftieth day Holy Sunday Road
The readings of the fifth Sunday talk about the Son of God;the way to the Father for the whole humanity as the firstborn of all new creation.
After the works of His Incarnation were revealed (in the second Sunday) and He presented His divine teaching about the Father and the essence of His relationship of the mankind(in the third Sunday) ,He revealed the Father’s light to the whole humanity(in the fourth Sunday).In this way,He gave us all that He has and it has become possible for us to be partakers of the divine nature.He fulfilled the economy by giving us what we have to the Father.Therefore,He has revealed to us on this Sunday that His mission on His Incarnation is our way to the Father(the way of knowledge, truth and life).
So the readings start with
Vespers psalm
It talks about the Son’s power in the heaven and in earth to emphasise that His incarnation,death,resurrection and ascension were by His self divine will. “Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.” (Psalms 135:6,21)
Matins psalm
It talks about calling all people to glorify the Son,”Bless the Lord, O house of Israel! Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron!” (Psalms 135:19-20)
Liturgy psalm
It talks about the father’s mercies which endure forever by finishing the divine economy of the Son by His ascension in His body to the heaven.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1-2)
The Vespers gospel
The Christ’s ascension in body to the heaven will be the beginning of the revelation of the Father and the Son’s glory to the humanity and the beginning of the humanity’s getting into a real company with the trinity.
“And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:21-23)
This is what the Son told His disciples before His ascesion in body, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.” (John 14:25)
Matins Gospel
As for the Matins gospel,it tells us about the icon of the fixed church in the Son,the vine,which has a favor of the Father in her prayer in the name of Christ and has a responsibility for manifesting the Father’s glory in bearing fruits permanently.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15:5-8)
Pauline Epistle
In Pauline Epistle,it tells us about the Son’s cross,His resurrection and ascension which are the way to the Father.This way has become ours through baptism and was confirmed to us through the holy life , enduring the sufferings,looking forward to the heaven and confiding in God’s promise.”Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us
hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” (Hebrews 10:19-35)
Catholic Epistle
In Catholic Epistle,it talks about the church of love,the prayer and the gifts deserved for the glory of the trinity. “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:11-14)
Praxis
In Praxis,it tells us about the Son’s glory Who is on the right of the Father and the Savior of the flesh(the church) and the One who visits every one from the remote way and guides them to the way of life.
“So that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground… Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting….. He said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:2-17)
The liturgy gospel
As for the liturgy gospel,it tells us about the target of the Son of God’s ascension in body to the heaven ,which is, to give the inheritance of the heaven to the human nature.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:2-6)
The summary of the explanation
The way to the the Father
FCalling all people to glorify the Son who is the Omnipotent in the heaven and in the earth.He made the Father’s mercies endure forever for the humanity.(the psams of Vespers,Matins and liturgy)
FThe Christ’s ascension in body is the beginning of the revelation of the Father and the Son’s glory to the humanity and the beginning of the humanity’s getting into a real company with the trinity. (The Vespers gospel)
FThe icon of the fixed church in the Son,the vine,which has a favor of the Father in her prayer and her responsibility for bearing fruits permanently.(Matins gospel)
FThe Christ’s death,His resurrection and ascension which are the way to the Father obtained by us through baptism and was confirmed to us through the holy life with Him , confiding in God’s promise, enduring the sufferings and looking forward to the heaven .(Pauline Epistle)
FThe church of prayer,love and the various gifts deserved for the glory of the trinity (Catholic Epistle)
FThe Son’s glory Who is on the right of the Father and the Savior of the church and Her Bishop and the One who visits every one in the remote way (Praxis)
FThe target of the Son’s ascension in body to the heaven is to pour the heaven’s gifts on the humans and to open the way of the mankind to the heaven. (the liturgy gospel)