Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen!

by John Kass

Easter Sunday 2023

April 16, 2023

I think we’ll have a leg of lamb for Sunday dinner. The boys will bring their girlfriends over and we’ll sit down, pray together, and have dinner together, just the six of us. It’s Easter Sunday. Families still come together on Easter Sunday, don’t they?

Betty thought about making lamb shanks and orzo. But she’s the one doing the cooking. I’m not doing the cooking. A whole roast leg of lamb will do. It will give up a bone for broth.  I’m a broth crazy man. She’ll make roast leg of lamb and bake some pasta in the meat juices in the ancient style, with crushed San Marzano tomatoes and loads of salty, grated Mizithra cheese.

I used to cook in the ancient style too, my cooking reaching back to the Middle East of 10,000  years ago, to the first civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates, when wheat was first cultivated and lamb was first domesticated, when this thing of ours with lamb and coals began.

It began thousands of years before the birth of Christ, and thousands of years before the blind poet Homer first told his epic adventure that launched the study of Literature, of The Odyssey about my hero and patron saint. The king of Ithaca. The man of wrath. Imperfect. Prideful. Dangerous. Crafty. A Greek. What you’d call a sinner. In other words, a man.

Those of you who’ve been with me on this journey of  years may remember those stories I’ve written about the roasting of the Easter lamb, the paschal lamb, low and slow over coals in commemorating  the Pascha, that we Greeks call our Easter the Pascha, the Jews call this time the Pesach (Passover).

I just can’t do that now. I can’t stoop over hot coals. Some of you know why. Of course, our sons can do it. They’re fine young men, honorable and straight who keep the traditions of their people and their church. And I’ve taught them, but I would probably ruin the day by stubbornly getting up and trying to do more than I could. I don’t want drama.

So a roast leg of lamb in the oven is a good deal.

The thing is, I’m just not all that crazy about food these days, or beer. Some of you have seen those photographs. I’ve gone from 265  pounds now down to 186 pounds. How much is too much? When I make it to middleweight and get out of the wheelchair for a few four-rounders I’ll figure it out.

It’s never been about the food for me, it’s never been about gorging myself, the good and wise among you know this. It has always been an ecclesiastical thing, about sharing and celebrating the holiday and the gathering with friends and family.

If you ask me I’m more of a Ramen, or more accurately, a Pho guy. That’s all I want to eat. Broth, delicious broth of  Southeast Asia, the  broth found in  ramen, which was developed in China but taken to an art form in Japan. I’ve  also got to learn how to work on  spicy Green Curry. I’ve been told for years by journalism critics of the left (aren’t  they always of the left?) that I should “evolve”.

Isn’t my annoying “Mr. Pho” persona evidence of  a desire to reach a new life form, or not?

At our Holy Saturday lunch, my mom and I reminisced about a dog we once had, a stubborn thick headed German Shorthair Pointer named Jason. “God bless Jason,” my mom said. “I miss him”.

And it’s a good thing she missed cracking him hard with a broom after she caught him with his typical “sad face,” which was really a guilty face with the meat strings from a ten pound Boston Roast Beef hanging from his mouth. As she screamed  and chased him around the room with a broom she didn’t sound like she was saying “God bless you Jason.”

I think  this happened around the time of the snakes that our cousins joined us in pouring out in the backyard. She swung the broom at the top of the stairs, missed the dog, but he yelped as if skinned, and she fell going thump thump thumpity thump all the way down the stairs, breaking her tailbone.

Just as guests were about to arrive, Jason tried to comfort his mistress with the meat strings still hanging from his teeth. He tried to nuzzle her on the floor to soothe her. She wasn’t in the mood.

“That dog”, she sighed wistfully on Saturday.

She knows that journeys end. I’ve learned it. I haven’t wanted to admit it, but I know it  now. The trees know. The wolf knows, and all God’s creatures. Great Lent is all about a journey too, and I’m so very glad and blessed that you’ve been on this journey with me. I’m not done. I have a few spears left to throw. But all journeys  end.

Consider this wisdom, not mine, but from a good and Holy man.

He writes: Every morning we ask ourselves, “What should I wear?” The choice we make may say something about us. We also might get a self-esteem boost from our clothing. At the very least, we know we’re protected from the elements .Perhaps similar but more urgent question is: “How is my soul clothed?” Throughout Great Lent, the theme of spiritual vesture comes to the fore in hymns and Scripture readings.”

That’s the opening passage of a piece on Lent written by  the Greek Orthodox metropolitan, his Eminence Nathaniel, my spiritual father, and published at johnkassnews.com

His was a gentle plea to shed the callousness of the heart every day during Lent. I’ve savored it since it was published. You might take some biscuit and bacon with you on a long walk in the woods. I took Metropolitan Nathaniel’s plea that we attend to our souls. I also took Patrick Hickey’s impressive and important column “City of God, 2023.”

“We all bear the sin of Adam and the mark of Cain,” he writes.

Amen.

We do bear it. All of us.

And those who refuse to acknowledge it? You really can’t help them.

It has been a rather difficult journey for some of us this year. But personally, I prefer to think of my stroke and quadruple bypass as markers along the way telling me how far I’ve come and how far I must go. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to write three columns a week, I’m so sorry for disappointing some of you, but I look at how far I’ve come already and feel so blessed to spend another Easter with my  family.

And with y0u.

I have been blessed to be able to do the weekly Chicago Way podcast with Jeff Carlin. And new voice-to-text technology is also helping me write columns. The wonderful therapists at Shirley Ryan Ability Labs (the angels of G0d), tell me I’m improving, so we’ll see.

It’s not about the pain, or the weakness or the obstacles. It’s about getting up.

And always and ever it is about the Resurrection, bells ringing on Easter Sunday, the red eggs, and the words of the people in church. And what my wife will tell me on Easter Sunday morning and for40 days afterward.

“Christos Anesti”! Christ has Risen! 

“Alithos  Anesti” Truly He Is Risen! 

With love and peace for all.

Happy Easter.

-30-

 

Comments 77

  6. I’m very happy you continue to recover from your health problems. Keep up the good work so you can enjoy life and occasionally share your thoughts with us. I appreciate your analysis of current events as it helps me review my own thoughts. Enjoy Easter with your family.

  11. He is risen indeed! Alleluia! What a journey you have been on! Even though I search daily for your wisdom and humor, I remain patient and pray that you achieve a complete recovery. These things take time. I would urge you to avoid following current news events.

  12. Christos Anesti John!
    I will miss standing around the Spring Lamb as John carves off choice bits of roasted lamb loin and tosses them to us hungry dogs.
    May the Risen Christ Jesus bless you all.

  15. Back in 2017 on Easter Sunday, while recovering from a rough kidney cancer surgery, a communion minister came into my room rather unexpectedly. Just the two of us. Complete strangers until that moment. We briefly discussed the Resurrection, if such a discussion can be brief. Then I received the Body of Christ. I was overcome with emotion. I cried real tears. Caught off guard by the moment, my usual public persona gone, I realized that the Lord had given me a new lease on life. Good to hear and see you John. You will be back on your own two feet, pen in hand, ready to do damage upon the scoundrels. That I know. Hang in there John. He is risen indeed!

  16. You look great John, content and at peace. Don’t you think the 265 contributed greatly to your crisis? I’m nit picking on a sick man, but you should be imploring the audience out there to weigh themselves regularly, consult s nutritionist, and engage in some sort of exercise under a Doctor’s supervision.

    At what, 5 foot 10? Even 186 is still considered overweight unless you’re musclebound. Yes, the traditional Greek food is absolutely wonderful, but one nice plate with a salad will do you for an entire day, with maybe some fruit and cheese later. Lay off the bread and the sweets.

    How many might be able to avoid such traumatic health events if we just take better care of ourselves?

    Let’s talk about Jesus now. He was a man of peace, man of love. He prayed for his executioners. I will pray that you and Greg Pratt and the guild at “the paper” can someday come together and fight for working people of Chicago and the children.

    I pray that we can reform our political process and share the great wealth better so that we do nit have such poverty and disenfranchisement living a few miles from the oligarchy that is gorging himself on our collective labor.

    Jesus was a socialist John. He fed people. He healed them. He loved them, even thise who wanted him dead. He didn’t sip champagne cocktails high in the Sierra Nevadas, or eat lunch in Las Vegas, or in Miami with Hyman Roth.

    You do look great though, and I’m glad for you and your family.

    1. Hope all of that good, clean Indiana air does you some good in your healing John. Great essay on things we should all be thankful for. I’m personally thankful Jesus was a socialist like a previous letter writer has stated and not a communist. Christianity wouldn’t be the same if we had to praise Fidel Castro, Karl Marx and Stalin as his apostles. Karl Marx as Moses would be a stretch too. If Jesus were a “Democratic Socialist” then Alexandra Ocasio Cortez would be our Mary Magdalene. Oh, wait! I’m getting a little convoluted now. Maybe we shouldn’t allow political movements to hijack religious movements. It’s bad enough that Non Christians lay claim to Catholicism while they advocate the aborting of unborn children. This can all get very confusing. If we let it.

    3. If you want to personally share your own wealth, Mr Maitino, please do so.

      But don’t try spreading the lie that Jesus is a Socialist. That dog won’t hunt.

      If you’re not inclined to read the Bible on the subject, a quick search will produce articles that disprove your notion.

      Try Forbes, The New American, or FEE for starters.

    4. 1. Why are you always so long winded with your “comments”? Seems like you use johnkassnews as your own platform to pontificate.

      2. Regarding your remarks about 186 lbs. being still too heavy, did you not read the two sentences that followed John’s comment about his current weight of 186? He implied that he’ll continue losing weight until he reaches Middleweight status which in the boxing world is 154-160 lbs.

      1. Good point. I agree. Mr. Maitino is an insufferable windbagging scold as his present post illustrates. As you suggest he uses johnkassnews to write long winded screeds. Perhaps he should seriously consider his own site, rather than hitching a ride on John’s. And here he is now, playing doctor. The genius fails to understand that coronary artery bypass surgery involves a whole team of caregivers including cardiologists, physical therapists, dietitians and more. Mr. Maitino seems to be under the delusion that somehow during Kass’ prolonged hospital stay and rehab course – at two world class institutions mind you – John Kass was never ever exposed to expert dietary advice. And only Mr. Maitino, now the “world’s foremost authority” regarding proper weight control and diet, can correct this oversight. Brilliant.

  18. John I’m just a fan who has always admired you and your work from afar. Used to see you at the Metra platform years back.
    Don’t give up. Keep a positive attitude. As you know, life is 10% what happens and 90% how you take it. Hard but true.
    God bless you and Happy Easter.
    Yes He has Risen!

  19. I knew about your shoulder injuries but the stroke and bypass surgery come as a surprise, Mr. Kass. As a subscriber, have I overlooked something? Your readers are all thankful for your recovery from those travails. As far as oven-roasted leg of lamb is concerned, it needn’t be a distant second to one roasted out of doors, though I understand your mild disappointment as that is a part of the holiday. (And as the great chef Paul Bocuse conceded, “I love the magic of the fire.”) My mother made delicious spare ribs in the oven and I can’t remember others–even from celebrated pits–that I enjoyed more. Best wishes to you, Mr. Kass, and your family on this wonderful holiday of yours.

  24. Easter is a time or renewal and you are renewed. Maybe a little different, but the gift of life has been bestowed on you. Spring up and smell the flowers, enjoy the day, take a deep breath and do what you love, with those you love. Happy Easter.

  25. It is with great joy to see less of you physically.
    You look much healthier and more serene.
    Maybe, when you feel like it, tell us the food and other parts of your rehab journey.
    And I love the big smile.
    That seems bigger.
    Bill

  26. I know that the health issues that you went through were a hell of a way to lose 80 pounds, but seriously, you look great! Very happy to hear your stories of roasting lamb and the good Greek history that goes with it.
    We had a German Shepherd named “Pace'” (Italian for “Peace” that we got right after the Paris Peace Talks that ended the Vietnam War. She once devoured a 7 pound roast, strings and all, that was cooling on the basement stove (being Italian, my Mother insisted that we have two kitchens). Great memories. Happy Easter to you and your Family- please continue with the therapy and get back to your newer, slimmer, self.

  27. Happy Easter, John! He is risen, indeed!

    Thank God that you are still with us, and that your journey has not yet come to its conclusion.

    This, though, is so sad:
    “The thing is, I’m just not all that crazy about food these days, or beer.”

    That does not bode well, I fear.

    Nonetheless, this is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

  28. Thank you for another article that reminds us of truth. Unlike Pilate, we have been blessed to know the significance of this day for Orthodox Christians and for those of us who celebrated last week through today.

    God bless you and you family on this blessed day.

    Wishing you a Happy Easter and continued recovery!

  30. Αληθώς ανέστη Γιάννη. Και του χρονου να’μαστε όλοι καλά!! I too passed on the cooking of the Easter lamb to my son George and son-in-law Hercules. I only help in the prep, the day before. Your path is being revealed to you each day as you continue to heal. We must always try to enjoy the journey. Our love and best wishes to you, Betty and the boys, and Zeus!! Χρόνια πολλά!!!

  31. John, Happy Easter, it was wonderful reading your Easter column..Certainly one of your best..It mad my wife and I really think about our family and friends on past Easter Sunday’s..thank you, and you are in our prayers. 🙏🙏🙏

  32. Happy Easter John. I’m not disappointed, and I’m not going anywhere. Your friends that write columns here are terrific. Ledwith especially. His baseball in Japan column was about as good as it gets.

    God Bless you and your family!

  37. God bless you John Kass. Happy Easter. Yes, by the way, you are looking great. At our home we are so happy to see and read you especially your Easter Sunday column. Thank you ever so much.
    Keep on keeping on John Kass, you are loved by many.

  38. John
    These are my favorite columns
    I enjoy the political ones but your journey is such a strong testament to faith and love
    Our Lab ate whole bowl of guacamole
    Not a good ending
    Met you at coffee shop across from Trib
    Still loving Naples
    God bless

  39. God bless you and your family on your journey back to good health, John, and thank you for this beautiful Easter gift.
    Mary and Bill Lenert

  40. Happy Easter John to you and your whole family.

    Focus on your faith, family and recovery. We’ll all still be out here looking for someone to speak the truth and share our ideas. Your friends are dong a great job pinch hitting for you.

    Just remember when the road ahead seems too long or rough, there are still streams in the north woods that need someone to thin the fish schools with a nice medium weight fly rod.

    Personally, I still think you should double your leader, tie on a nice big “Dahlberg Diver” and go for Pike or Musky in the reed edges from a comfortable boat, no strenuous wading involved.

    But it’s your choice. Hooking even a small three footer from a canoe really lets you know what a “bobber” must feel like.

  41. Your picture does tell a thousand words! You are healing well, and that is a gift! Keep up the hard work of rebuilding your strength! Wonderful column, thanks for sharing it. We are all sinners on a journey in this life! He has risen indeed, and that is, in the end, what matters most! Blessings on your continued recovery!

  43. Thank you for your beautiful words and pictures today.
    You and your Family have been through a lot this year.
    God is good and you are recovering well.
    I love the picture of you and Zeus in your backyard. Great smile.
    You look great, your appetite will come back.
    Thank goodness you moved before your health crises. Little did you know that God had prepared a place for you to recover, a new home, a big backyard, a new journey.
    Continued prayers for a full recovery.
    God Bless you and your Family. Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

  44. God bless you and your family.
    Every day I have the privilege of waking up and having my feet the touch the floor is a blessing.
    I know I share the same belief of many here we care about you and your well being. We’ve been on this journey with you. Many have kept you and yours in our prayers.
    Enjoy your day of celebration. He has risen.

  46. No disappointment here. You keep getting better. Your body may have taken a hit but your keyboard talent is unscathed. Hang in there. Hopefully fly rod by fall.

  50. Truly He is risen.
    Happy Easter to you and your family.
    John, your journey is just beginning and I look forward to tagging along to read about all your adventures and endeavors.
    Blessings to you and your family on this Holy day and always.

  52. Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! Christus ist auferstanden!

    It is wonderful to hear from you this Pascha!

    “It’s not about the pain, or the weakness or the obstacles. It’s about getting up.”
    There’s a YouTube video of Jordan Peterson talking about his “take” on Orthodoxy, and he really dwells on this point – that living as an Orthodox Christian requires the struggle and suffering. “Take up your cross and struggle up the hill” as he puts it. However, I think it makes the joy all the more sweet; that we know in Him we can share in the victory over death itself.

    It’s been a tough year for a lot of us. I’m certainly glad you are still here, still fighting the good fight. A joyous feast to you and your family!

  53. “She knows that journeys end. I’ve learned it. I haven’t wanted to admit it, but I know it now.”

    And for some sooner than others.

    My Scout Troop in Burr Ridge/Willow Springs/Countryside/Indian Head Park spent a day in service yesterday. There’s a community garden park in Willow Springs that we spent a day on digging out paths through, edging them with 4″ steel edging, filling with gravel and screenings and tamping down so that people can use the garden without churning up a mass of mud. We’re not done yet, some decorative rock goes in next Saturday, and then we’ll be finished. It’s a a young man’s Eagle project.

    The Willow Springs Public Works had a couple of people and a backhoe there – they provided the gravel and screenings and used the backhoe to pile it up and dump it into our wheelbarrows. One of them is one of our Eagles from a few years ago. I know him well and went to talk to him. He was quite upset, uncharacteristically so, so I asked what was wrong.

    He’d been up since 2:00 A.M. That’s when he got the call that one of his colleagues, a young man only 20 years old, was riding on his motorcycle when a car pulled out of a side road in front of him apparently without looking.

    His name was Ryan. He leaves behind a wife and 2 children. Pray for him. Pray for his family. And watch for motorcycles.

  55. He is Risen, truly risen! Blessed and Happy Easter to you, John, Enjoy your words and those of the folks you share with us. May you heal and continue inspire our journey. Happy Easter!

  56. Truly, He is risen!

    My prayers go with you as always. Sometimes you also need somebody handy with a rake. If you need something you know I am close. Cultivating a garden or putting a tomato plant in the ground.

    — Tomato Yoda

  57. My Irish Catholic mother made fabulous leg of lamb roasts with peeled potatoes baked in the same pan – or her peerless mashed potatoes. Enjoy your dinner.

    You look quite good in your new shape. I lost 25 pounds after bi-lateral TKRs a few years ago and have kept it off. I spend several hours a day on body maintenance, including climbing many dozens of stairs that I added to my regimen. Swimming is excellent for a recovering body. My legs kept sinking the first year but no longer.

  59. Happy Easter. God has you everyday on your road to recovery. We enjoy reading your posts. You have a gift of writing and your using it to speak truth

  61. No dogs at our family feasts and celebrations when I was young. Just a reminder to be good in the form of a cat-of-nine-tails hanging in my grandma’s kitchen.

    So glad you are making progress and back to doing what you love.

  62. Happy Easter! I love this line…. “It’s not about the pain, or the weakness, or the obstacles. It’s about getting up.” Best wishes in your recovery.

  63. Happy Easter! I miss your more frequent columns, but certainly understand what you are going though, may Christ the healer bring about both physical and spiritual healing !

    My Benedictine spirit always ‘keeps death before my eyes’ even though I am in my 50’s and in good health. One never knows when the Lord will call one back, so better to have our souls clean for that day.

    – Deacon John Burzynski

  64. John
    You look very good. Your thin now but not cachetic. This is the way you are suppose to look for your body build, height and age. Your face shows a vibrancy which as a physician I always look for in a patient who under goes a devasting llness and comes out alive. Being over weight does contribute to heart problems but the real health trouble makers are: ALCOHOL AND SMOKING. Both have absolutely no benefits to one’s health that fools like to espouse such as the benefits of alcohol, ie wine. I say BULLSCAT. ALL ALCOHOL IS A POISON JUST LIKE TOBACCO. Your health was most affected by these two poisons. Stay away from them and you will live longer.
    And remember what my 100% Irish mother in law always said: ‘you can’t be too thin or too rich’. Start with thin first, John.
    T. A. Rudd, MS, MD

  65. Happy Easter, John! The Lord’s not done with you yet! There’s more for you to say to this world, and maybe, just maybe, someone will wake up to your common sense words. Happy Easter, from a fellow Christian who celebrated this (2nd) Easter by singing in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Illiana Oratorio Society yesterday afternoon.

  66. GREETINGS JOHN ,
    YOUR PHOTO REMINDS ME OF THE DAY I WAS TOLD I WAS CANCER FREE ! THE AIR SEEMED MUCH FRESHER ,CLEANER AND THE SUN MUCH BRIGHTER AND YES 65 LBS LIGHTER ,COLON CANCER IS A BITCH AND SO TO IS HAVING A STROKE AND BYPASS.
    AS YOU KNOW IT GIVES YOU THE TIME TO THINK THINGS OVER ABOUT LIFE. IT IS GREAT NEWS WE STILL GET TO READ A FEW WORDS OF TRUTH FROM YOU AND ALSO A FEW FRIENDS FILLING IN WHILE YOU HEAL.GO SLOW AND DO WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU! AS READERS YOU GIVE US TRUTH AND COMFORT .AND JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW MY WIFE OF 58 YEARS STILL COOKS A LEG OF LAMB BASTED IN MOGAN DAVID WINE AND SERVED WITH MINT JELLY EVERY EASTER .WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER SOME SUNDAY TO SAMPLE IRISH LEG OF LAMB.
    GET WELL
    THE DOOLINS

  69. This made me laugh and cry at the same time! Please don’t worry about letting your subscribers down – we are all only pulling for you to get better! Sending you continued prayers for your healing – and Easter blessings to you and your family.

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