Dear Parishioners, Happy Easter! Or in the ancient Greek: Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen). To which we make the response: Alithos Anesti (Truly, He is Risen). Nothing is more important than what we celebrate on Easter. As St. Paul reminds us: If Christ has not been raised, our faith is vain. The Resurrection is central to our faith; sin and death defeated.
Most people probably hope and do everything they can to get to heaven, but how many of us look forward to the Resurrection? One might say: “we are in heaven, what more do we need?” Answering this question brings to light the great significance and awe-filled event that is the Resurrection of Christ and the reality of heaven. Further, it makes us appreciate what we pray in the Creed every week: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead.”
It starts with a question: how do we know anything at all: From our five senses; from our bodies. Without a body we cannot receive any new information. Many of us probably have an idea of heaven with clouds in which the saints are looking down on us, but this is only a poetic expression of heaven. The saints do not look down on us because they do not have their bodies yet. In fact, God directly infuses knowledge into the saints so that they know what happens on earth. They too, however, await the resurrection at the end of time when Christ comes again so that they will be supremely happy. In order to be supremely happy we need our bodies. Those souls in heaven before the Resurrection will experience the beatific vision; they will see God face to face. Embodiment is not necessary for this vision. Yet separation from our bodies is an unnatural state for the soul. A soul in heaven is not properly human, because to be human is to have a body. So, the Resurrection of Christ is not just an event of the past. Instead all look forward to the day when we too will experience the resurrection of our bodies.
This year we had the privilege of sharing the Sacraments with those who participated in our RCIA program here at the parish. RCIA means the “Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.” It is the process by which a person becomes a Catholic or receives Sacraments that they may have missed earlier in their lives (such as Confirmation). This year we had twelve members of the parish as part of the program. For the past several weeks and months they have learned the truths of the Catholic faith, participated in the various liturgies and devotions, and prayed. Thanks be to God for the graces he has bestowed on them. We will continue to pray for them as a parish for their continued growth in holiness.
A word of thanks to all the ministers, lectors, ushers, sacristans, singers, musicians, altar servers, and decorators. As you can imagine, a lot happens behind the scenes to make sure that we have prayerful and holy Masses. Many parishioners helped to make this a prayerful Holy Week and Easter.