Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

The glorious festival of our Faith has arrived!  The later days of Lent were anything but what we imagined when ashes marked our foreheads in February.  Nevertheless, we were provided a period of struggle and reflection that possibly helped us see “importance” and “priority” more clearly … and perhaps with greater appreciation of our Lord’s sacrifice with less concern for our inconvenience.
Now the "spiritual agenda” changes as many of us must continue some degree of “sheltering in place” for days to come.  As "Lent in the cloister” was an opportunity for an unique interior journey, so the time of "Easter in the cloister” can be a time to realize Joy in our hearts; rejoicing that the Lord who gave himself for us is Risen and Alive in our lives and with folks we cannot yet rejoice together in fellowship and worship.

The Lord is Risen, Indeed. Alleluia!

This Easter Morning I stood at our Saint Mary Altar and offered Holy Easter Mass

 

The Collect for Easter Sunday

O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son,

have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity,

Grant, we pray,

that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may,

through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.      Amen.

I urge you to gather your household in Easter joy and share the Scriptures for this great day:

Acts of he Apostles 10:34a, 37-43:  Emboldened by the power and joy of the Resurrection, Peter proclaims the Gospel of salvation and forgiveness

Colossians 3:1-4: We are united with Christ in his work of of Redemption and our lives are now “hidden with Christ in God” and we share in his glory.

John 20:1-9:  Mary Magdala is the first of the disciples to experience the Risen Christ.  She runs to share the news to others, who likewise hurry to see for themselves.

Each Scripture passage tells of Easter Joy that moves urgently to a new evangelism.  So also, our Easter Joy must be an eagerness to share the Good News.

 

A “Homilette” for Easter Sunday

Today we celebrate the highest feast of our Faith ... The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!  This is the defining event for Christians and for all Creation!  In his rising from death to restored and full life Jesus stands as the conqueror of sin and of all that damages life.  His Resurrection gives us: the Hope of Resurrection.

Hope is not wishing that something might come to be some day.  Hope is the present assurance of what we faithfully expect to be.  In our Creed we affirm that we look forward to the resurrection of the dead.  By our bodily death, life is not ended but is just beginning!

Our Hope of Resurrection also affirms that the Power of Christ’s Resurrection is present to us here and now.  Just as Jesus demonstrates this power on the first Easter morning, he can do so in every tragedy and emergency of human life.

Naturally, this is hard to realize when hospitals are filling with COVID-19 sick and death tolls worldwide are climbing.  Hope of Resurrection does not avoid or prevent suffering.  Rather, resurrection often comes through suffering, as it was for our Lord.  With Faith, Hope and Love we see God’s restoring power at work in countless hours of self-less and risky service by persons who aid others in need.  We see the Hope of Resurrection manifest as the Church offers the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus at Masses every day, even as public activities are suspended.

     Closing Prayer for Easter Sunday Mass

 

      Look upon your Church, O God, wit