Happy Easter

I have risen, and I am with you still, alleluia.

You have laid your hand upon me, alleluia.

Too wonderful for me this knowledge, alleluia, alleluia.

Entrance antiphon for Easter Sunday

Dear friends,

I wish you all a blessed and happy Easter! On this day the Lord has destroyed death and restored life. On this day we remember the wonderful life that was given to us in baptism. Entering into the baptismal font, we descend into the death of Christ; coming out, we rise with Him. How wonderful this mystery.

Throughout the world this day, joy fills the hearts of those who believe in Christ as we remember the great gift given to us. The grace of God fills the world and many are moved by the love that is poured out. Our hearts are stirred and we are drawn closer to Jesus, to our Heavenly Father, to those we love.

The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. (Evangelii Gaudium #1, Pope Francis)

In the first year of his pontificate, Pope Francis has shown us what it means to live the joy of the gospel. He genuinely reflects the light of Christ in the good news of the gospel. He radiates this joy as he engages the world. He can only do this as he has had an encounter with Jesus. This is the key and it is held out to us today. Christ risen from the dead is with us today, as the antiphon above proclaims. As we celebrate this great day Jesus is inviting us to renew our relationship with Him, the relationship we entered into at our baptism.

Many of us were baptized as infants and may take it for granted for the most part in our daily lives. Today Jesus comes to us and stirs up that grace for us to encounter Him anew. If our hearts are open, we have the opportunity to encounter Him and so have our hearts filled with the joy of the gospel. There is no deeper longing deep within the human heart than the desire for this encounter, this joy that flows from the life and the love of God our creator and redeemer. He wants to share that joy with us so that we, His children, may radiate that joy to our families, our friends, our community, our world.

Let the joy of this day fill your heart. Christ wants to share that deep abiding joy with you today and the rest of your life.

I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. (Evangelii Gaudium #3, Pope Francis)

In the Joy of the risen Lord,

Fr. Jack D. Shrum