The Last Sunday of Pascha

Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

I want to sing this song every day of my life.

A few years ago, I found myself really looking inward at how negative my life was. To be honest I was just sick and tired of the constant gloominess which seemed to permeate my whole life. There were many moments that I can look back at and see what led me onto this path I now find myself. The journey to joy…the path to seek beauty in the everyday, to find the joy within the struggle. Doing this, for me, is not easy, and it never will be.

St. Seraphim and his every present “Christ is risen” was truly an inspiration and then, without a shadow of a doubt, the glorious Feast of Pascha and the joy that bubbles over during this Feast of Feasts which we celebrate for 40 days. That feeling during the Paschal Liturgy was what I sought, daily. In 2017 I finally realized that the joy that bubbles over during the anticipation of and celebrations of Pascha, it could be mine any time I wanted it. I just needed to work at seeking it. That is what brought me here. And I am so grateful it did.

I want to sing this song every day of my life.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

This coming week is what we call “The Leavetaking of Pascha”. We say goodbye to the festivities and proclamations until next year. This does not mean we leave behind any thought of the Resurrection. This could not be further from the truth. If you have followed my blog at all you know that Sundays, every single Sunday, throughout the entire year is Resurrection Sunday. We are constantly reminded of His glorious Resurrection.

I am so grateful.

But during this strange time and in this bizarre world we live in where we are forced to stay home as much as possible, where we haven’t properly been able to worship His Resurrection with our parish family, I am unsure I am willing to let go of the festivities and the proclamations. The constant reminder that Christ is risen! is really what is getting me through. I’ve been waiting on the edge of my seat to pick up where we left off, to proclaim the risen Lord with our parish family! And to sing together…

Oh boy, do I love this hymn! This is just one verse of many. We sang it last night and knowing it would come to an end made me a bit sad. Dn. James said, “Let’s continue to sing this until we are back at Church.” He is feeling it too!

So even though I am supposed to say good-bye to Pascha this week, I do not think I will. I think I will ever focus my attention on the risen Lord and anticipate the coming of His Resurrection with my fellow parishioners, so that we can proclaim it together in the house of the Lord.

A Free Printable – A Resurrection Reminder

The above photo is your Resurrection Reminder for the week! Print it out as PDF and post it somewhere you can be reminded! This particular verse is exhilarating to me because it exhorts us to “embrace each other joyously!” Won’t it be a joy-filled day when we can do that again? If you would like to hear this song you can go here.

Kindle Joy This Week

I have been reading a book called Becoming a Healing Presence by Albert S. Rossi. It is published by Ancient Faith Publishing. I have taken my time reading this book because there is so much to take in. I need to let it soak in. But this book is definitely one that is helping me learn to be a Kindler of Joy because by Becoming a Healing Presence you will inevitably kindle joy along the way. Chapter 4 titled Vocation as a Way of Life is one that I am needing to read again and again as it is so rich. I have shared other portions of this  book before.

Today I want to share one snippet to encourage you through your week in your efforts to kindle joy in others.

“My vocation is not my career or my role in life. Rather, my vocation is my call from Christ to do what He has me on the planet to do, to cooperate in building up His Kingdom on earth. Hence, my vocation is fluid and changes with each passing day, each passing moment, in an enthralling adventure. My vocation is my way of life—His way of life in me—as time passes.”

Later he goes on to say (emphasis mine), “My task is to find gratitude in all circumstances, including negative life situations…Many of us shrink from becoming a healing presence to others because of the initial cost. We don’t experience the full joy because we get stuck in the suffering. Joy emerges by living through the suffering to the other side.”

My prayer is to not get caught up in negative life situations, especially the negative situation of these present times we are living through. These very hard times of not being able to gather in our churches. It is easy to get stuck in a negative thought pattern.

Pray this week for eyes to be cleared of the fog that blinds us to all the beautiful things that have come out of this time of being home. Perhaps you’ve become a much stronger prayer warrior. Perhaps your family has been able to do more fun things together. Perhaps you’ve been able to work on a project you’ve been planning for a very long time or read that book you have wanted to read. There is good, no matter where you are or what you’ve done. God is in the midst. Let us become unstuck and be filled with gratitude and emerge on the other side of this suffering, to find a joy filled life!

In the Shop

SALE for Pentecost which is two weeks from today! There are still Pentecost Cards available in my Etsy shop today. It isn’t too late to order yours and have them in time to send out to your loved ones, those you won’t get to see for Pentecost! Use coupon code PENTECOST15 to receive 15% off your order.

Send a Card—Deliver a Smile

Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

Have a joy filled week!