Life can knock us down, but story does not end there

When we think about the events leading up to the Passion, one theme is constant: Jesus was continually knocked down.
 

In fact, Jesus was knocked down in more ways than one. He was rejected by his own people. He was betrayed by one of his own friends. He was disowned by many of his relatives. And, when we thought it could not get any worse, he was executed on the Cross.  But the story didn’t end there. Jesus got up again! Not even death could keep him down. Not even the weight of our sins could keep him down. Not even the tug and pull of the devil could keep him down. Amen I say to you:  Jesus got knocked down…but he got up again…because nothing could keep him down.

Like our risen Savior we, too, get knocked down from time to time, sometimes by disease, sometimes by the infidelities of people dear to our hearts. Sometimes we get knocked down by high bills and low credit. Sometimes we get knocked down by addictions, domestic violence, abuse, unemployment, by divorce or, worse, the death of a loved one. We’ve all got the bruises to show how life in an imperfect world can knock us down.

The poor souls in Ukraine have been knocked down by Russian bombs, tanks and ground troops who, following the orders of a war-criminal, a dictator, Vladimir Putin, are destroying Ukranian cities, including their hospitals, schools, apartment buildings and other facilities frequented by civilians.  Yet, under the leadership of Volodimir Zelensky, these Ukrainians have held their own in this ongoing battle to remain independent of and overcome Putin’s tyranny. The nations of N.A.T.O. are all concerned as they see Ukrainians knocked down. They have collected and sent en masse, food, clothing, ammunition, weapons and medical supplies. More than 11 million have become refugees in neighboring Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia, In addition to those who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, there are millions who are displaced after fleeing their cities which have been destroyed. Yes, the Ukrainians have been knocked down but they refuse to stay down. They get up again as a people of faith, a people of resilience, who have a deep love for their country, their culture and their history.  Furthermore they are determined to keep Ukraine independent, sovereign and united like the yellow and blue colors that make up their flag and the words of their one verse national anthem that every Ukrainian knows and sings proudly regardless of the circumstances.
 

For the Ukrainian Orthodox and Byzantine Christians, Easter is a reminder that just as Jesus’ resurrection followed his crucifixion, so joy follows struggle. Easter is glimmer of hope that eclipses the atrocities and casualties of war that have painted the landscape of their beloved country.     As a global community, as members of the same species, as fellow children of God, we will gather this Easter to proclaim to the world that, despite the blow to our minds, hearts and bodies, “we got up again.” And we will continue to get up again because, as water was poured over our heads in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we united ourselves to Jesus who, in turn, united us to our God and to each other who are the Church! From that moment on, we became heirs to the merits of the Cross, which means, we are beneficiaries to the glorious Resurrection!
 

Yes, my friends, our Lord does not promise that we will be immune from getting knocked down here or there, but he does promise that he will always be there to catch us when we fall! Happy Easter!
 

Father Comandiini is managing editor of “The Catholic Spirit.”