April 13, 2012
Paschal Epistle of His Grace Jerome, Bishop of Manhattan
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Christ is Risen! Truly Risen!
"It is the Day of Resurrection: be enlightened, O ye people!"
As
it says in one ancient "ambon prayer" for this day, the church is
decorated, not so much with flowers, as with people!
And on the one hand, it is a joyous sight to see the crowds that
pack our churches to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. What can
be more wonderful than to see the throngs that come here, instead of
to rock concerts, amusements and spectacles, at least on this
occasion? The churches can scarcely hold all the worshippers, many
of whom have to find places outside, on the steps, in the street, or
in the courtyard.
The other side of that joy, however, is the realization that if all
these people, whose presence so decorates the Church, were constant
in their presence, then the churches would be more numerous, and
built with room to accommodate them. It is the absence of these
pious crowds the rest of the year that makes them seem to be such a
consolation now: at last, for once, they are here!
As we look at the photos of Easter crowds from the past, a pastor’s
eye cannot help wondering, not so much where these worshippers are
today (many or most have gone to their own resurrection!), but where
their posterity might be. In this country, most of the churchgoers
are newer arrivals, but there should be many of the second, third
and other generations as well. But they have gradually drifted away
from the Orthodox Church.
Why? Probably the main reason is that they failed to be enlightened,
most of all about what the Resurrection means for each of them.
Holy Pascha is far more than the blessing of Easter baskets and
colored eggs, or even of shouting
"Christ is Risen!" We come
back every year, to be reminded not only that Christ is risen from
the dead, but that each of us must die, rise again, and stand before
Judgment – and that our whole purpose in life, is to realize God’s
plan for us, so as to enter into the everlasting Resurrection joy
prepared from before the world began, for those who love Him.
We get that enlightenment about loving God and finding our special
place in His Kingdom, by being true members of the Church, the Body
of Christ in this world. For that, we need first and foremost to
take part, to be active in the Church, and to love and care for
God’s True Church, decorating it by our presence, and by our direct,
and active, support.
Today, we see one another together at this celebration of the
Resurrection: let us not forget that Great Resurrection, in which we
shall once again, all stand together!
+ JEROME
Bishop of Manhattan
Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese
Pascha of our Lord 2012
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