Easter pastoral of the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchy of the U.S.A. to our clergy, hieromonks and brothers, religious sisters, seminarians and beloved faithful.
Christ Is Risen!
Indeed He Is Risen!
Pascha is the greatest and most joyful feast in the liturgical calendar, a feast of over-flowing happiness. It is interesting to note however, that the Feast of Pascha begins with sorrow and emptiness.
The Evangelists, in their telling of the story of Pascha, begin, not with the joy of the Resurrection, but with the sadness of the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other women come, lamenting and sorrowful, early in the morning, to the grave of Jesus in order to anoint the body of their beloved teacher. Instead of Jesus’ body, however, they discover an empty tomb. Horrified, they think that someone has inexplicably stolen the body! Only then, do they hear the angel’s announcement of Christ’s Resurrection: “He is not here for He has risen, as He said He would. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Mt. 28:6)