Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen! Christos Voskrese!

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So, they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. (John 20:1-7)

As the apostle Peter arrived at the tomb, he went right in. He sees the linen clothes lying there, but there was something unusual. Something caught his eye: the napkin/handkerchief! The napkin, which was placed over the face of our Lord, was NOT thrown aside like the linen/burial cloths. The napkin was neatly folded together “in a place itself”. Should this mean anything to us?

The folded napkin had to do with the notion of the Master and Servant according to Hebrew tradition. You see when the servant would set the dinner table for the master of the house, the servant made sure that all was furnished perfectly, including the placement of the napkin on the table.

During the course of the evening when the master of the house was done eating, he would rise from the table, use the napkin to wipe his fingers, his mouth, and afterwards he would toss the napkin onto the table. Tossing the napkin onto the table was a signal for the servant that the master is done eating and it is time to clean up the table.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it aside…. that contained a message for the servant. That folded napkin meant “I’m not finished yet” or “I’m coming back!”

You see my friends, when the apostles Peter and John entered the empty tomb and saw that folded napkin/handkerchief laying to the side they understood the meaning of that. The apostles Peter and John knew that that their Master, Teacher, and Friend was coming back, because they saw that the napkin is still folded!

This napkin, when it is properly understood, is a message of hope and joy from our Risen Lord!
Since we are celebrating Easter-Pascha allow me to offer a funny story: A Sunday school teacher was asking her six-year-olds about the meaning of Easter. “Children,” she said, “Do you know why we celebrate Easter?” A little girl raised her hand. “Yes Jenny,” said the teacher. Jenny said, “Is Easter when we put on costumes and go trick-or-treating?” “No, Jenny. That’s Halloween. Does anyone else know?”

A little boy yelled, “It’s when we set off fireworks!” “No Jimmy, that’s 4th of July. Anybody else?” A shy little girl in the back said, “Easter is when Jesus died.” The teacher replied, “That’s right Shauna. And what happened to Jesus that makes Easter special?” “Well, he died and got buried. And every Easter he comes out. And if he sees his shadow there’s 6 more weeks of winter.”

You’ve probably heard that joke before, but the sad part is that many in our world today do not know what the true meaning of Pascha - Easter is all about.

Since the napkin is still folded for you and for me it is our sacred duty to share and teach the world around us (starting at home) what the true meaning of Pascha – Easter is.

Pascha stands as the cornerstone of our Holy Faith, marking the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It signifies the victory over death and sin, offering believers the promise of eternal life. The Resurrection is so central to us as Byzantine Catholics that all elements of the faith revolve around it, making Pascha-Easter the most important and joyous celebration of the ecclesiastical year. Pascha-Easter is not just a historical commemoration but a present reality. It is not just about the Easter basket, and the wonderful Easter food we enjoy every year, but it’s seen as a chance to spiritually rebirth oneself, to shed the old ways and embrace the new life in Christ. And this renewal is not a private undertaking but a communal one in our parishes and families. We can demonstrate this as we gather together to break the Lenten fast, share the Paschal meal, and exchange greetings of “Christ is Risen-Christos Voskrese” to which we reply, “Indeed He is Risen-Voistinu Voskrese.”

Friends, the napkin is still folded!
Therefore, as we celebrate Easter-Pascha which stands as a beacon of hope and renewal in our lives, it is my humble wish that this will be a time when the breaking of bread, the sharing of dyed eggs, ham and other great foods become profound acts of faith and unity.

Singing the “Christos Voskrese-Christ is Risen” in front of the closed doors of our parish church and hearing our faithful sing this hymn of victory has always been a source of joy and spiritual rejuvenation for me. It’s in these moments that we truly grasp the essence of our faith — celebrating the Resurrection and embracing the communal spirit that defines us. May this festive season renew our spirits, reminding us of the enduring power of our shared beliefs and the joyous celebration of life’s triumph over death.

Christ is Risen! Christos Voskrese!
Fr. Val Michlik