Dear Friends,
As we enter the Third Sunday of Easter, we are basking in the glory of the Risen Christ, who appears to the
disciples again and again to reinforce their belief and trust in Him. The Resurrection lies at the heart of our
faith, for it is definitively the ONE event that changed everything.
Easter is the cornerstone of our Liturgical Year. Where Ash Wednesday and Lent say, “In Adam, all die,”
Easter says, “In Christ, all are made alive.” Because Easter is so huge for us, we take 50 days to experience
with joy the reality of this new life and love. Not only Easter Sunday, but every Sunday is hugely important for
us. Did you know that each Sunday is an extension of Easter – is a celebration of the Resurrection? Hence,
Sundays are called Little Easters.
After Jesus appears to the downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus, and after they are rudely awakened to the realization
that it is Jesus Himself breaking bread with them, they run to share the news with the rest of the disciples. Jesus next appears
to those gathered in the upper room, where He reminds them about all that was said of Him in the Scriptures (the Torah), the
Prophets and the Psalms. He then commissions them to continue the work of sharing the good news that He is alive and that
forgiveness will be the main focus of His Kingdom. The reading from the Gospel of Luke (24: 35-48) for this Sunday ends with the
words: “You are the witnesses of these things.”
Peter takes this command seriously and boldly proclaims to those listening to him about Jesus and all that they did to destroy him.
Then he gives them the good news: God brought Jesus back to life. He exhorts them: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).
Like Peter, others took up the mantle of spreading this good news. Down through the centuries, disciples of
Jesus have “hurried about the work of resurrection,” as Fr. Moreau would say, to share the good news. Now
it is our turn to carry the baton that has been handed on to us. We are called to be witnesses to the wondrous
and life-saving things that have happened in God’s plan of Salvation. Let us boldly hurry about this work of
witnessing to Jesus in our setting and milieu.
Thanks to all who came to personally experience the Divine Mercy Special Program last Sunday with Mark
Forrest. What a beautiful and blessed event that was! Thanks to all those who make our parish vibrant by
volunteering when there is a need for lots of hands. What a blessing they are to us.
On Monday, 22 April 2024, we will be celebrating the First Anniversary of the Dedication of our beautiful
Grotto. We will have a special Mass at the Grotto at 6 p.m. on that day.
Have a Blessed Week!
With love,
Fr. John