Sunday, April 08, 2007

"Who saith to them: Be not affrighted; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen, he is not here" (Mark 16: 6)

Today we celebrate Easter. The Churches are full of joyful singing. The Bride of Christ rejoice today with the whole Christian world: "This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein" (Ps 117: 24). In ancient Church on this day Christians greeted each other with special Easter greeting: "Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!"
There is only one tomb in the world where the inscription could read: "He, who has risen from the dead" instead of usual: "May He rest in peace". Let us rejoice and be glad for Our Blessed Lord's suffering and pains has ended. Betrayal, torture, death...all is finished, for ever:"Christ rising again from the dead, dieth now no more, death shall no more have dominion over Him" (Rom 6:9). Let us rejoice and be glad, for Our Risen Lord has given us by His triumph over death, the new proof of soul's immortality. He says thus to us with gentle admonition: "You live twice, not only once! Not everything ends with the death! Your hard work is not for vain".
Let us rejoice and be glad for Easter is the cradle of Christian faith. Jesus' Resurrection is the signature and final credibility stamp of His teaching which was proven by this act beyond any doubt, as St Paul says: "And if Christ be not risen again, your faith is vain" (1 Cor 15: 17). He has risen by His own divine power, that is why His teaching, His Church, the faith and promises he has given us are all divine. With joyful gladness let us celebrate Easter feast in accordance with St Paul's words: "Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven" - that is far from non-Christian, pagan customs and peculiarities - "nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness; " - that is with no guile, hardened hearts or persistent sin - "but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor 5: 8).