Today, the first Sunday after Easter is known as New Sunday. This day represents the renewal of human life. Just as nature awakens, revives, and repairs itself in the spring following the barrenness of winter, so does the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ repair humanity corrupted by sin and grant us new life, as the apostle said: "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
The new life in Christ brings forth indescribable and eternal joy. When we are in Christ, our life becomes interwoven with His life, and we adopt God's will, plans, and wishes as our own. This renewed life in Christ restores the image and likeness of God within us, adorns us with virtues, and transforms our relationship with God into a sacrament. As the apostle says, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9)
In these times of uncertainty and economic distress, the renewal and eternal joy of Christ's Holy Resurrection are needed more than ever. Let us pray to our Risen Lord Jesus Christ with the words of our blessed Catholicos Nersess Shnorhali, saying: "Renewer of the old, Make me also new, Adorn me afresh.”
