Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!
Christos Voskrese!
Voistinnu Voskrese!
May the blessing of the Risen Lord bless you and your families during this Easter Season!
After the coldest and longest winter in the North Eastern United States, it was the first time in my 14 years in Pittsburgh to see the grass turn brown. We rejoice to see the return of green grass, pussy willows, and the blooms of trees and flowers. The winter snow and rain have fed the plants and brought our yards, forests, and fields back to life.
Likewise, the season of fasting and listening to readings of the Lenten season have allowed us the time to turn our attention inward to our souls, and to have space in our hearts for the breaking of the Good News that Jesus Christ is Risen. The Paschal Easter Sunday and Bright Week stories of our Lord and God Jesus Christ continue to change our hearts and the world.
After many years of war in over twenty countries, we hope that the Lord gives us peace. “May the Lord give you Peace” was a saying of Saint Francis of Assisi whose memory we celebrate this year. I took it as my Episcopal motto when I received my Episcopal ordination. Wars and the rumors of war have always been a part of our world. It is especially difficult to live in Ukraine and the Middle East where our families struggle to survive.
Our Holy Father Pope Leo offered his hope for peace in the world based on Words of the Risen Lord. The first gift of peace was given at Jesus first appearance to the apostles. They were filled with fear, sadness, helplessness and a sense of betrayal after experiencing the darkness of Good Friday. Jesus first words were “peace be with you!”.
The second greeting of peace was given by Risen Jesus to the apostles just before they were to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower them to overcome the darkness and fear of the people. When there is true and just peace, we can overcome hatred and violence of war. All types of persecution can be overcome if we can truly follow the way proclaimed in the Easter message.
The third greeting of Peace is to the Apostle Thomas. The Risen Lord makes a return visit to extend His peace to Saint Thomas who was always late and struggling to understand and believe the teachings of Jesus. Saint Thomas is an example for us and to anyone who is having difficulty understanding and believing in the power Jesus’s Resurrection. The peace of the Lord makes it possible to believe that the Lord is Risen. Belief in the Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of all Christian teaching on how to live and to believe in the true power of the Resurrection. It also gives us hope that when our time comes, we too will be raised from the dead.
Our personal problems frighten us and test our faith in the same way that the apostles were tested after Jesus’s crucifixion and death. Each time that we sing “Christ is Risen!”, the Lord give us a shot of the grace of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us to become more like Christ. The news and images of growing chaos in world can overwhelm us. Besides war, the crushing effects of the cost of living and health problems can be overwhelming. But with the aid of this healing of the Fast and power of the Risen Lord, we can go beyond our fears and receive at least a little peace to a world in need of healing.
We give thanks for all who entered into our Byzantine Catholic Church. Holy Week has been a time of new Baptisms and professions of Faith for many new Byzantine Catholics. We have also been blessed with many ordinations to deaconate and priesthood this year. Please pray for our seminarians and those called to priestly, diaconal, and religious orders as well as lay leadership for our Byzantine Catholic Church.
On behalf of the Metropolitan Church, the Cathedral of Saint John in Munhall, we thank you for your journey through the Lenten Fast and participation in celebrations for the Great Week. All Easter food is exempt from calories during Bright Week. Carry the joy of the Resurrection that fills your heart and mind to your family, friends, and to the whole world.
Most Reverend William C. Skurla, D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh
Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!
Christos Voskresese!
Voistinnu Voskrese!
