April 12, 1998Easter Sunday |
Dear Friends in Christ,
In speaking to us about Jesus, the Scriptures tell us: "God
has raised him on the third day and made him manifest" (Acts
10:40).
Throughout the Lenten season we have concentrated on the
death of our Lord on the Cross. And today in churches
throughout the Archdiocese and the world with joyful hearts we
proclaim that our Savior Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia!
The Lord of life has risen in power, bringing with Him love
and justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. May the risen
Christ strengthen us to live as His people, and to be
instruments of His justice and peace to our brothers and
sisters.
With the women who first discovered the empty tomb, with Mary
and the Apostles, and in union with the whole Church, let us
give thanks to God this day because our Savior Jesus Christ has
redeemed us by His death and resurrection.
To all of you, a Blessed Easter!
Christ's presence among us.... It is easy to imagine that our faith would be so much better if only we could have been with Jesus in his early life. Today we rejoice that Jesus can transcend time. His saving presence is as available to us now as it ever was. He is with us!
Peter's speech to the people summarizes the whole tradition of the early Church. Jesus went about preaching, healing and doing good works. His enemies condemned and executed Him, but God raised Him from the dead.
Paul reminds us that through our baptismal commitment we are meant to be a new people. The world should somehow be a little different, a little better, because we live in it as Jesus did, caring for the needs of all.
All the writers of the Resurrection agree on one thing. Mary Magdalene was at the tomb on Easter morning. Jesus makes this remarkable woman the apostle to the apostles. It is Mary who finds the tomb empty, and she runs to the disciples to tell them what she has seen.
GOD GIVES US FRIENDS AS HIS GREATEST GIFT.
God gave us the seasons --
each with its own beauty and reason,
each meant to bring us a blessing,
a joy, and a feeling of love.
God gave us dreams --
each with its own secret,
each sent to give us feelings of
inspiration, hope, and tranquility.
God gave us the sunshine,
the rainbows and the rain,
the beauty and freedom of nature
to teach us the wisdom of gentle acceptance.
God gave us miracles in our hearts and lives,
little things that happen to remind us
we're alive.
God gave us the ability to face each new day
with courage, wisdom, and a smile from
knowing that whatever sorrow or pain we face,
He abides with us securely in our hearts.
Most of all, God gave us friends
to teach us about love and guide us
through this world, always available
to help us forward towards a greater
understanding and a greater sharing and
giving of love.
--Regina Hill
In speaking to us about Jesus, the Scriptures tell us: "God has raised him on the third day and made him manifest" (Acts 10:40).
Throughout the Lenten season we have concentrated on the death of our Lord on the Cross. And today in churches throughout the Archdiocese and the world with joyful hearts we proclaim that our Savior Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. Alleluia!
The Lord of life has risen in power, bringing with Him love and justice, forgiveness and reconciliation. May the risen Christ strengthen us to live as His people, and to be instruments of His justice and peace to our brothers and sisters.
With the women who first discovered the empty tomb, with Mary and the Apostles, and in union with the whole Church, let us give thanks to God this day because our Savior Jesus Christ has redeemed us by His death and resurrection.
To all of you a Blessed Easter!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Justin Rigali
Archbishop of St. Louis
What happened last night? The long initiation process for new members of the Church climaxed and the rest of us present renewed our baptismal life and death experience. We became more aware that baptism makes the church and the church had better keep its heart, eye and mind fixed on those waters.
It may seem sometimes that our church is a little like a club we belong to, or a support group, or a crutch to lean on in difficult times, or a cranky but still lovable bit of nostalgia. But once we let baptism into the picture, no more.
Since Holy Thursday evening most of us had been to church several times. We prayed and read scripture at home. We didn't watch TV, avoided non-essential shopping and cut down on work. We ate less and came to last night with a happy hunger.
We began around a fire and carried candles inside and for a long time we listened to the Bible and sang about the creation story, Isaac, the Red Sea, the women finding the empty tomb and much more.
Then we focused on the baptismal pool and baptized or received into full unity all those who had been preparing for a year. These wonderful folks were confirmed with perfumed oil. They changed into new garments, joined us around the altar, gave thanks, praised and shared the communion.
What we affirmed and embraced last night was not merely some afterlife of bliss. We proclaimed the defeat of death, that death that masquerades as life: The death that dwells in economic and political systems when any human being is without food or dignity, the death that dwells in our very selves when we continue beating our children's plowshares into swords. Defeated is that death that dwells in homes and nations that teach that any color, sex, age, nationality, status is better than any other.
Last night's Liturgy was worldly through and through. It was what we needed if we were to make new Christians and renew old ones.
What happened last night requires a week of weeks, fifty days to celebrate and comprehend. All, even those who were absent, are invited to join in our Eastertime parade of prayerfulness, reflection and renewal. We are a Resurrection People and "Alleluia" is our song.
Love,
Fr. Ed
"Father, how wonderful your care for us! How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son. O happy fault, O necessary sin of
Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer! Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!" So sings the Easter Exsultet
on Holy Saturday Night.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith, the anchor of our
hope, and our final destiny. Our belief in the Resurrection of Christ and the
human body distinguishes us from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the
other great world religions. The Resurrection is the doctrine that at once
glorifies the human body for all ages and gives hope that no person, no
situation, no circumstance can render life totally absurd, meaningless and
desperate.
May God bless you, your family, our neighborhoods, our region, our nation
and world as we are reminded of the Light of Christ radiant in the Resurrection.
May Easter bring you new hope, Fr. Mike
Risen Lord Jesus, You love your priests with all
your priestly Heart.
Hear our heartfelt prayer for our priests and in particular
today for Father --------.
We pray for our faithful and fervent priests,
for joyful and dedicated priests,
for unfaithful and struggling priests,
for priests who labor at home and abroad,
for lonely and desolate priests,
for sick and dying priests,
for the souls of priests in Purgatory.
Merciful Heart of Jesus, remember that
they are weak and frail human beings.
Increase in them a deep faith, a bright
and firm hope, and a burning love.
We ask that
in their loneliness, You comfort them;
in their sorrow, You strengthen them;
in their frustration, You show them
that it is through suffering that the
soul is purified.
Eternal High Priest, keep them close to
your Sacred Heart, and bless them
abundantly in time and eternity.
Please call forth more priests to
serve Your Church. Amen.
