Parishioners, Friends, and Devout Laity, I pray you have a Blessed Pascha and God be glorified by the working of the Holy Spirit in your life. This is the season to celebrate Christ is Risen. During this past period of Great Lent we have been renewing our love for Jesus the Christ through the renewal of our mind and spirit. We do this by reflecting on what Jesus means to us as our Lord and Savior as well as our King.
God sent His only Son so that His sacrifice would give us eternal life. So He willingly spilled His precious blood for us -- Are we willing to live for Him? Jesus didn't make us robots. He gave us a chance to desire Him with all our hearts. He set the example of what it means to love someone. He asks that we Love Him and His creation in return. He asks us to be obedient to Him, not just at the beginning or on Sunday or when we want to or even just during Lent. No, He wants us to obey and love Him on a daily, no hourly basis. This is what Pascha means: Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead in order to give us a chance for life with Him in eternity. His shed Blood was for us! He destroyed death and sin! During this past season we have examined our lives and have been found guilty. Yes we are sinners. However, Christ's Resurrection has given us freedom from our sins as we live in Christ.
We understand and acknowledge the Resurrection has placed a glorious crown upon all of Christ's sufferings! As I contemplate the cross, I grasp that its wonder is not in its appearance, but in the permanency of love that took Christ to the cross and held him there, for me. Socrates mastered the art of dying; Christ overcame death as "the last enemy" (1 Cor. 15:26). There is a real difference between the two things; the one is within the scope of human possibilities, the other means resurrection. It's not from 'ars moriendi,' the 'art of dying,' but from the resurrection of Christ, that a new and purifying wind can blow through our present world. If a few people really believed that and acted on it in their daily lives, a great deal would be changed. To live in the light of the resurrection--that is what Pascha means. WE BELIEVE do we not? We act on it in our daily lives, right? As Orthodox Christians, who hold to the Truth taught by Jesus Christ, we DO!
This Pascha, let it be the New Year's day of our soul. We are the church, the Body of Christ. Without the True Orthodox Church, there is no salvation. Jesus gave His Life, His Blood for His Body -- us. For we as His Body have the life of the Church in our heart. This joyful time, Pascha, We are reminded again of His sacrifice and His will for us to live! To live in Christ as He is in the Church.
The universe is God's house, and an intruder has entered and is even now desecrating the house. Many times when we see him walking around, we are on the brink of terror. We need not fear, however, since he and our Father met head-on in combat in the tomb, and God emerged the undisputed Victor! We are safe from the intruder. This is the message of Pascha: the most fearsome enemies we can face have been overpowered by the One who loves us. So as we enter into this joyous season, this time of the year, after reflection, let us give Glory to God. Finally, may Christ our God, who conquered death by His death, grant peace and prosperity to us and to the whole world, especially to our brothers and sister of the Catacomb Church, the Church in Resistance, in which we live, made holy by His Precious Blood. May His glorious Resurrection flood our lives with radiant joy and holy zeal during these days of Pascha and for the rest of this year!!!
Christ is Risen! Christ is Among Us! Christ is indeed Risen! A sinner who is repentant,
Father Richard Reed, Obl OSB
Holy Family American Orthodox Church/UOCC
