Our evangelizing mission as the Church begins on Easter morning with the Risen Christ, writes Archbishop Miller. (16th-century painting of The Resurrection of Christ by Mattias Grunewald. CNS/Bridgeman Images)
Easter message from Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
When the women went to the tomb at dawn of Easter day, something completely unexpected happens, something which unsettles their hearts, something which will upset their whole life. The tomb is open, and they do not find the Lord’s crucified body. It is an event which leaves them perplexed and full of questions: “What happened?”
We know the answer. Jesus’ lifeless body was suffused with the living breath of God and, as the walls of the tomb were shattered, he rose in glory. That is why the angels could proclaim, “He is not here”; He can no longer be found in the tomb.
Today the proclamation of the Lord’s Resurrection vigorously bursts forth. It is the answer to the recurring question of the skeptics, that we also find in the book of Ecclesiastes: “Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’?” (Eccl 1:10). We answer, yes. On Easter morning, the world and all its people were given new life.
We now live in light of the Good News that Jesus is risen from the dead. No longer a captive of death, he is alive and forever accompanies us on our pilgrim way.
Hidden within each of us is a seed of resurrection, an offer of new life ready to be awakened. Through baptism which incorporates us into him, his Resurrection becomes our resurrection.
Let him enter your life, welcome him as a friend. If you have kept him at a safe distance, let him embrace you with open arms. If following him seems difficult, let him draw near and give you the strength to live as a disciple.
Our evangelizing mission as the Church begins on Easter morning. The message which we bring to the world is this: in the Risen Jesus, love has triumphed over hatred, mercy over sinfulness, goodness over evil, truth over falsehood, and life over death.
From hearts immersed in Easter joy, we are compelled to share this Good News that the Lord is truly risen. Like the holy women, we too must obey the angel’s command to hasten and announce to others the message of joy and hope that is Jesus’ triumph. It is more urgent than ever that the men and women of our age come to know and encounter Jesus.
This joy of knowing that Jesus is alive, this hope that fills our hearts, cannot be contained. We believe in a Risen Lord who has defeated evil and death. Let us have the courage to bring this joy and this light into every corner of our lives, our families and our communities. Jesus’ Resurrection means that he is alive and walks side by side with us in life.
As Catholics in the Lower Mainland, we are being sent out this Easter to awaken hope in hearts burdened by sadness and doubt, in those who struggle to find meaning in life, in the marginalized who suffer from our neglect. As joyful servants of hope, let us announce the Risen One by our lives and by our love.
This is our mission in 2018: to kindle in the hearts of our neighbour hope where there is despair, joy where there is sorrow, light where there is darkness, and life where there is death.
To each of you I offer my heartfelt Easter greetings and the assurance of my prayers: may the joy of Christ’s Resurrection fill your hearts and your homes this Paschal season!
+Michael
Archbishop of Vancouver
Miss the fast? Come for the feast!
Easter message from New Westminster Eparch Ken Nowakowski
Dear Sisters and Brothers
in Christ!
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
The famous Church Father, St. John Chrysostom (the “Golden-mouthed”), a great speaker and Archbishop of Constantinople (397-405), delivered an Easter homily which in the Byzantine Churches we customarily read on Easter morning.
This homily, an application of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt 20:1-16), is filled with joy and hope. St. John announces “Let every pious and God-loving soul enjoy this splendid and luminous feast…” He invites all to celebrate Easter, those who kept the Lenten fast from the very beginning, as well as those who for whatever reason or excuse hardly participated in the fast at all: “Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast you all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.” He reminds us, dear friends, that God’s love for us is boundless, and that our Lord’s sacrifice on the Holy Cross is for everyone, not just a privileged few.
The great saint continues and talks about the significance of the feast: “Let no one fear death, for the Saviour’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.” It is, indeed, for this reason that in the Byzantine Church we sing: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death.” Having encountered Christ, hell is described as abolished, mocked, slain, overthrown, bound in chains: “It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.”
And finally, quoting St. Paul, “O death, where is your victory. O death, where is your sting” (1 Cor 15:55), in a final crescendo, over and over, he repeats the customary Easter greeting “Christ is risen!”, explaining ever deeper the fullness of our salvation: “you [death] are overthrown ... the demons are fallen … the angels rejoice … life reigns … and not one dead remains in the grave.”
Few have been able to capture the joy of Easter better than St. John Chrysostom. As we celebrate this feast of all feasts, may our Risen Lord bless you with a renewed FAITH in the Resurrection, and above all with the great JOY that comes from LIFE in him!
With prayerful best wishes, I remain,
Sincerely yours in the Risen Christ!
+Ken (Nowakowski)
Bishop of New Westminster