Happy
Easter!

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The Lord is Risen, Alleluia!!!!

Together, as a Church, we have journeyed through the season of Lent, fasting, praying, and almsgiving.  We then entered more deeply into the paschal mystery of the Sacred Triduum.   We now celebrate with exuberant joy the glorious resurrection of the Lord JESUS!

Jesus’ apostles and first disciples knew the sadness and discouragement of oppression and persecution, war and conflict of their times.  They knew the daily struggles, disappointments, and suffering in everyday life.  Jesus came, lived and taught among them, and gave them hope.  But then … Jesus was rejected, persecuted, arrested, and condemned to crucifixion.  It seemed to them that all was lost. But it wasn’t! 

Jesus had forewarned them that this would happen.  He also told them that He would rise on the third day, even though they did not comprehend what this meant.  Until … the third day!  On that third day, John’s gospel gives the account of Mary Magdalene finding His tomb empty and that Jesus then appeared to her.  She went and announced to the other disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”  When Jesus later appeared to them, their joy, faith, and confident hope in Him became transformed.

As we go about our lives, witnessing the struggles and conflicts of our day, let us renew within our own hearts confident trust and hope in our Risen Lord Jesus.  Let us always hold fast to Jesus’ promise that He would be with us always, until the end of time.  With hope and confidence, let us lift our hearts and voices in exuberant joy, just as the first apostles did, and declare with our lives, “The Lord has risen!  He has truly risen!”  Let us rejoice in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and spread this joy and hope everywhere we go and to everyone we encounter!

Happy & Blessed Easter to you!

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