EASTER PASTORALS: Let us live as Easter people (04/04/04)

EASTER PASTORALS

Let us live as Easter people

Easter 2004 pastoral message of Metropolitan Stefan Soroka to the most reverend bishops, the reverend clergy and religious, and the faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States of America.

Christ is Risen!

Have you noticed how much running there is in the Easter story?

The women rush to the tomb early in the morning, before sunrise. Guards at the tomb run to tell the Pharisees about the earthquake and the stone being moved. Peter and the Beloved Disciple race each other to the tomb to check out the story told by the women. Why all this running, and yet in a cemetery? Usually, people walk quietly and slowly in a cemetery. The Gospel tells us of much running and activity at the cemetery that first Easter morning.

Easter is a day that makes us get up and move! This is the day that we loudly announce that Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! We process around the Church three times on Easter morning, proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ. We face the closed doors of the Church. The Church itself represents heaven on earth, God's holy house. The doors were closed, just as the gates of heaven were closed to mankind after original sin. We incense the doors and joyously proclaim the Resurrection of Christ. With the loud knock on the church doors with the cross, and the proclamation that Christ is Risen, the doors are opened for us, the followers of Christ.

At this time, something very different occurs. The bishop and priests, who represent Christ, enter first into the Church, and the procession of the faithful follows, singing "Christ is Risen!" We arrive to find the Royal Doors of the Iconostasis, as well as the deacons' doors, wide open. This signifies that the doors of the heavenly kingdom are wide open to all followers of Christ during Easter Bright Week.

The Risen Christ also faced closed doors on that first Easter morning. His closest friends, the apostles, and Mary, his mother, and Mary Magdalene, were all locked behind closed doors that morning. They were afraid and they were confused. The atmosphere of that room was shattered! Christ entered the room, stood before them, and said, "Peace be with you!" Then Christ showed them the scars in his hands and his side. And Christ repeated to them, "Peace be with you!"

The Risen Christ's appearance to the apostles and His assurance of His peace upon them, comforted them, reassured them, and also challenged them. They were comforted with the knowledge that the living presence of Christ was always with them. They were reassured that eternal life in heaven with Christ was a sure thing. And they were challenged. It meant that Christ's way of life must become their way of living. Christ's resurrection is a divine stamp of approval upon everything Jesus said and did. Now Christ is among us as a living presence to help us do with our lives what Jesus did with his.

Easter means that loving one's enemies is not some novel idea. It is God's way. It is what God expects all of us to do. Easter means that forgiving 70 times is not an idealistic goal. It is God's way, and the way He wants us all to deal with our hurts and resentments. Easter means that greatness through service is more than just a lovely slogan. It is God's standard. It is what we are all called to do as followers of Christ - serve one another.

Let us all joyfully receive the comfort and reassurance of the meaning of Easter. Let us also embrace the challenge of Easter. Let each of us resolve to live as Easter people! Easter people are people who choose life in Christ. They try and live out their faith in all they say and do. Yes, there are times when we may make mistakes, or fail, or go into a slumber. We are all human. Easter people do not stay down. They rise above their faults and limitations, and try and make the living presence of Christ felt among us! And that is what we are called to be as a Church - bringing forth Christ's living presence among us.

Our Church needs Easter people! Resolve to let the Risen Christ work through you to bring forth His living presence in your church, in your homes, in your community. Resolve to become more involved with people and to show more interest in the well-being of other people and of your church. And always do it joyfully! Choose to live as Easter people! Not only will you share and give life to your family, parish and community, but you will gain life - everlasting life that the Risen Christ promised to all those who love Him!

That is my prayer for you and for me this Easter - that we live as Easter people for Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Ý Stefan Soroka
Metropolitan-Archbishop

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