The Lord is Risen.  He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia!

Welcome to all as we celebrate the Rising of Christ and the gift of redemption.  Christ has made possible our participation in eternal life through his free act of sacrifice.  From an ancient Easter homily we read:

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.  And what is this day?  It is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the author of light, who brings the sunrise and the beginning of life, saying of himself:  I am the light of day; whoever walks in the daylight does not stumble.  That is to say, whoever follows Christ in all things will come by this path to the throne of eternal light.  Such was the prayer Christ made to the Father while he was still on earth:  Father, I desire that where I am they also may be, those who have come to believe in me; and that as you are in me and I in you, so they may abide in us.

Our participation is both the gift we offer to God as our thanks and it is the fulfillment of the desire of Christ who made possible our salvation.  He endured the Passion that we may be united to the Father, that we may be with them in the kingdom.  Thus the meaning to the phrase, “By His stripes, we are healed.”  Our separation from God is lifted.  By the scourging, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of the cross, the nailing to the wood, the agony of dying, Jesus carried us to the Father, so deeply did he desire our communion in the Father.  Our celebration is not just for today, and not just  the Easter season.  We celebrate into eternity the gift shared with us, and we renew it each time we gather around the altar as the Body of Christ.

Christ is truly risen, and we are saved.   A blessed Easter to all!

Blessings upon our Eighth Graders as they are Confirmed

We welcome Archbishop Rozanski this week on Thursday for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Please pray for those receiving the sacrament and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  May God continue in them the good work He has begun.