Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen.
Christos Voskrese!
Voistinu Voskrese:
“Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord. You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day” Easter Homily of Saint John Chrysostom
At dawn when Mary Magdalene and the women went to the empty tomb where Jesus had been laid by Joseph of Arimathea, marks the fulfillment of prophecy and the teaching of Jesus. They expected to find a body which they would care for. They arrived to find the stone had been rolled away. They found only the linens of burial and the Risen Lord.
Jesus died and was resurrected to new life in the spirit. By His death, He conquered death. Not only for himself, but for all who believe in him. At the empty tomb, the women and the Apostles realized and finally understood the meaning of all his teaching and examples, and believed that Jesus was truly Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were sad because like the Apostles, they did not comprehend that Jesus was the Son of God even after he explained his central role in the salvation of the world. Only after the breaking of the bread did they see that He had passed from death to life. Only then, their eyes and minds were opened to see that the Risen Lord was with them.
Like the apostles and disciples, we have heard the message of the death and resurrection of Jesus thousands of times. Most of us have had to explain the events and meaning of Easter to our children and others. When we explain that Jesus Christ came into this world, taught, suffered, and died for our sins, they sometimes hear the words, but like the apostles, it does not sink into their minds and change their lives.
In their lives and ours, Jesus gives us a wakeup call each time we or someone close to us has a close call with death. Whether it is a car accident or a hospital visit, we are in a situation where we are confronted with the real possibility that we or someone close to us could pass from this life. During those life-or-death moments, our worries for all the less important things of life pale in significance measured against our passing into eternity.
This Easter Sunday, the prayers of Resurrection Matins call us to wake up and see the light of the new day in which Jesus shows by his example that we can overcome death and enter into new life. The smoke is cleared away and the less important things melt away when we realize the power of God’s presence with us each time we celebrate Easter.
All of our actions and thoughts have meaning because they are connected to breaking into the divine light which is all around us if we can see with the eyes of faith. If we open our selves through prayer, fasting, and doing good, we can follow Jesus to spread the Easter message and bring salvation to the world.
On behalf of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church, we thank you for all your fasting and prayer during the Lenten Season of the Great Fast. Also, we thank you for your support and many labors this year to support your church community and carry on the mission given to us by Christ. Continue to carry the good news that Christ is Risen from the dead and has conquered death by death.
In closing,
O Death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life reigns!
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead,
Is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Easter Homily of Saint John Chrysostom
To Him be glory and dominion
Unto ages of ages.
Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh
