Chrystus Zmartwychwstał
Prawdziwie zmartwychwstał!

Christ is risen
Truly He is risen! Alleluia

My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Welcome this Easter morning. Welcome to this parish church. Welcome to the joy of the Resurrected Christ.

What I’ve always loved about Easter is the actuality of it all.

Today, and for the next fifty days, we will read the Gospel stories of the resurrected Christ, His disciples, and the women who accompanied them. We will travel with them in the light of hope, the hope of everlasting life.

In the readings we will hear of the joy and unity of the early Church. We will hear of a band of believers who are of one accord, even in the face of persecution and difficult questions.

Who among us cannot connect with the followers of Jesus?

Who among us cannot connect with Mary of Magdala, finding the empty tomb, shocked and dismayed, running off to tell Peter and the other disciples. Later, finding a gardener, and then having her eyes opened, realizing it is Jesus.

Who among us cannot connect with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? Finally realizing that their hearts were on fire with God’s love because it was Jesus they were conversing with. They knew Him in the breaking of the bread.

Who among us cannot connect with Thomas, doubting Jesus had appeared, looking for proof, and finding it in the marks of the crucifixion.

And there’s Peter, who along with the other disciples enjoys a picnic with Jesus along the seashore. Peter will hear Jesus ask him, —Do you love me Peter?— Peter gets his opportunity to undo his denial, and shows his love.

In the Acts we hear Peter preaching to the street.

—You know what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.”

We will hear of the Church’s growth, 5,000 were added that day. We will hear of imprisonments, healings, and narrow escapes. Deacons will be created, and the people will be of one accord, turning over all they have for the mission of the Church. The poor will be fed, widows and orphans will be cared for, and the liars and unbelievers will fall victim to their lack of faith. Judas will be replaced in prayer and the drawing of lots.

We connect to all this. We feel as if we were there. It is all so real.

Brothers and sisters,

It is.

Christ is risen
Truly He is risen! Alleluia

Iście z Bogiem
Zostańcie z Bogiem

It’s an old informal Polish saying.

When people part from each other the person staying says —Iście z Bogiem— —“ literally —Go with God.— The person leaving replies in return —Zostańcie z Bogiem— —“ literally —Remain with God—

Some of you know that I’ve only been with our parish for a few years. I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know Chet as much as I would have liked.

Because of my lack of more intimate familiarity I will take this time to focus, not so much on my own thoughts, but on the thoughts of our little faith community, a community that did know Chet very well.

Who was Chet? People saw him as hard working, determined, a father and husband, a man of faith, a good and dedicated friend, a member of their group who shared a common purpose with them.

The Church is a funny institution. People see it in many different ways. The PNCC in particular has many unique attributes, key among them, its nature as a community of members democratically united in following Jesus Christ.

Chet was blessed with success in life. With that success he could have joined a lot of clubs and organizations. Look around the Capital Region. The Polish Club (there’s probably at least 5 of them), the Italian Club, any Rod and Gun Club, Country Clubs galore. He could have spent his time, hard work, and charity on numerous causes. But as I noted, Chet was determined, strong willed even.

Chet understood that Church is more than a social club. He understood that church is more than charity. He understood that church is about people united with one purpose —“ the praise and worship of God. Everything he did for and in the church was about that. Chet did what Jesus asked of him. He committed his whole self to building up the Kingdom of God in a community united in that mission.

Now Chet is taking his leave of us. We say, Czeslaw, iście z Bogiem; Chet, go with God. In reply he is saying to all of us zostańcie z Bogiem; remain with God. Jesus is certainly saying,

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.