THE PASSOVER OF THE LORD: HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY
On this most holy night we celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation stone of our Faith and the source of our hope we have as Christians. The Church presents it to us in all its glory as the guarantee of our salvation as well as our own resurrection. For the Lord’s rising from the dead marks the death of death, and as the First Born of the Dead, He becomes the author of life.
To Jesus Christ, who destroyed Death by His death and rose victorious from the tomb be glory and power, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power unto ages of ages. Amen.
He who once was dead now lives. How can this be? For those who have faith this can be because nothing is impossible with God.
At one time one of the most powerful men in the world was Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin, a Russian Communist leader. In 1930 he addressed a massive assembly of workers in Kiev on the subject of atheism. He aimed the heavy artillery of his arguments at Christianity by hurling insults and proof against it. He went on and on for an hour effectively crucifying and killing our faith. When he was done he looked out smugly upon what he thought was the smoldering ash heap of the crowd’s faith. His speech was followed by silence and he demanded, “Are there any questions?” A deafening silence filled the auditorium, for what seemed an eternity; finally a worker from the crowd approached the platform and stood near the great leader. The worker surveyed the crowd scanning the silent faces from left to right. Finally, he shouted the ancient greeting known so well in the Church: “CHRIST IS RISEN!” En masse, the crowd rose to its feet and the response came crashing forth like the sound of thunder: “TRULY, HE IS RISEN.”
Communism has fallen, the Soviet Union is no more. The Faith is practiced freely now. But there is something more deceptive and destructive in the world today. Lack of faith and the falling away of many has accomplished what communism did not.
“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some say there is no resurrection of the dead?” 1 Cor. 15:12
Many deny Christ is God, risen from the dead. But for us, who struggle and strive to live in Christ, Christ has been raised and lives, never to die again.
Our custom at Holy Family is to proclaim the Lord’s Resurrection with the affirmation of our Faith: “CHRIST IS RISEN!” “TRULY, HE IS RISEN!” This praise shout goes on in our worship for the Great Fifty Days of the Lord’s Passover. This is our cry until Pentecost when the Lord sends the Holy Spirit from the Father. We sing the Paschal Troparion too, proclaiming our Faith. “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”
These are important reminders of who gives us life. But without always saying or singing these words we can proclaim what we believe.
Every time we show mercy to a stranger, truly forgive a family member, help the poor, read for the umpteenth time the same book to a child, visit the sick, pray for the dead, or help the vulnerable, CHRIST IS RISEN!
When we show patience with an elderly parent or relative, or don’t run when we see that person who drives us crazy or pray for our wandering grown children or give to the parish so the message of the Lord can be preached, TRULY HE IS RISEN!
Christ rises in the world and in our lives when we are faithful to him, when we struggle to love him amidst all the distraction or our own physical, emotional or spiritual pain.
We must go beyond ourselves as Christ did and become people who live not for ourselves but for others. It is hard to live for others; I don’t think it was easy for the Lord, if it was he would not have gone away for the crowds to pray and “regroup.”
But in the words of St. Paul, “If you have risen with Christ seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at God’s right hand.” (Col. 3:1) Let us seek the higher things, the better things, the God loving things. Christ is risen! Truly, he is risen!
A Suggestion: Signing and blessing your home Paschal Candle
Many of you have sent pics of the cross on your door or the Paschal candle you made for your home. Beautiful works and beautiful acts of faith.
On Holy Saturday evening or Easter Sunday morning take your candle and trace with your finger the signs on your Paschal candle and say (gathered as a family or by yourself)
- For the cross: “Christ, yesterday and today”
- For the Alpha and the Omega: “the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega”
- For the year: “his are the seasons and the ages, to him be glory and dominion through every age and forever. Amen.”
- For the five marks at the ends and middle of the cross, which represent the Lord’s wounds, we say while tracing: “By his wounds, holy and glorious, may he guard and protect us, Christ our Lord. Amen."
If you have holy water sprinkle the candle, saying: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” If you don’t have holy water at home that’s fine. When this is all over pick some up at church.
End the Fast and celebrate the Feast: “Eat rich foods and drink choice wines.” (Isaiah 25:6b) If it says it in the Bible it must be a good thing. Don’t like rich foods and choice wines? Eat lots of candy and desserts!
Light your candle when you pray during the Easter Season. Before you pray during the Easter Season, affirm your faith and say: “Christ is risen! “Truly, he is risen!”
He who once was conquered, now conquers all.
Blessed Passover of the Lord!
Fondly,
Fr. Phil
