A Message from Father Harrison
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Happy Easter to everyone! Yes, it is still Easter, despite the peculiar situation we all are living right now. It is still our Easter celebration – Jesus has risen from the dead. He who took the sins of humanity on His own shoulder brought them to the grave and has risen free of them. And now, thanks to God’s gracious mercy, we share that very same life through the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.
This last Lent was “different”. Usually, we engage that season with prayer and penance and properly dispose of ourselves for a fitting celebration of Easter. But now that, in a sense, we were deprived of that usual Lenten routine, are we as ready to celebrate the new life of Easter? Are we prepared to get past the discomfort of not having all the ordinary Lenten activities and, then, fully engage the mysticism of our union with the Risen Christ? Will the world be able to see in us a clear description of this new life with all its virtue and joy and undefeated hope?
Yes, we may not presently have the “usual” Easter items around us. But, then, isn’t Easter more than that: the chocolate eggs and bunnies, fading lilies; new clothes and Easter baskets? Easter is so much more than these passing things. True, we are used to them and they do make us feel good (perhaps a little too nostalgic about our own childhood Easters). But, does our faith and the strength surrounding Easter depend on such thing? No, of course not!
Then, let us engage the world around us with the considerable experience of knowing Jesus crucified and risen. Let us approach each aspect of life, both happy and unhappy, with the joy on realizing that: His resurrection is the promise of our own – today; that His strength is ours – today; that His wisdom brings hope to all – today; that His mercy is life-giving – today; that His presence is for all – today – through our hearts, united in Him! Especially now, under these viral circumstances, there are people who really do need to experience the risen Christ. Do not be afraid to bring Him to them!
A Message from Fr. Harrison 041220