Daily Reflection for Tuesday April 06, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday's readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040621.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 2:36-41
Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22
Gospel: John 20:11-18
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
"... go to my brothers and tell them,' I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." John 20:17
Happy first Tuesday of the Easter season!
My parents were first-generation Americans. Their parents were immigrants from Europe. My father's parents came from Ireland, and my mother's parents came from Ukraine in Eastern Europe. We are Roman Catholic, but my mother was raised Ukrainian Orthodox and converted to Roman Catholicism to marry my father.
My mother kept some of her Ukrainian culture and heritage even as she embraced her new church. She taught us to make beautiful Easter eggs and Braided Paska Easter Bread that symbolized the new life in Christ. One other Ukrainian tradition was her Easter greeting. She would proclaim "Khrystos Voskres," which means; Christ is Risen. And my aunts and uncles would respond: "Voistynu Voskres!" which means; Indeed He is Risen!
Christ is Risen. Indeed He is Risen! When I was young, this greeting seemed foreign and more jubilantly Christian than the more familiar Happy Easter. Now decades later, it is a joy to share this greeting with my Ukrainian cousins at Easter.
The joy of Easter is palpable for me. Although it does not fizzle and fade immediately like a fourth of July firework, I sometimes forget that the Church celebrates Eastertide for fifty days, from Easter to Pentecost. Our challenge is to remember that Christ is with us not just during Easter Week or Eastertide but every waking morning.
Christ is Risen. Indeed, He is Risen! Jesus included us in His message from today’s gospel when He said: “... my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
May the peace and joy of the Risen Christ be with you and your families always. Amen!
Love and Blessings,
Deacon John McShea