From the Pastor's Desk
ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING COVD-19 PANDEMIC
Easter Sunday of the Resurrecrtion of the Lord
Easter is the greatest and the most important feast in the Church for three reasons:
1) The Resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Christian Faith. It is the greatest of the miracles, for it proves that Jesus is God. That is why St. Paul writes: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain; and your Faith is in vain” (I Cor 15:14). “Jesus is Lord, He is risen!” (Rom 10:9), was the central theme of the kerygma (or “preaching”), of the apostles, because Jesus had prophesied His Resurrection as a sign of His Divinity: The founder of no other religion has an empty tomb as Jesus has.
2) Easter is the guarantee of our own resurrection. Jesus assured Martha at the tomb of Lazarus: “I am the Resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Me will live even though he dies” (Jn 11:25-26).
3) Easter is a feast which gives us hope and encouragement in this world of pain, sorrows, and tears. It reminds us that life is worth living. It is our belief in the Real Presence of the Risen Jesus in our souls, in His Church, in the Blessed Sacrament and in Heaven that gives meaning to our personal as well as our communal prayer, strength to fight against temptations, and freedom from unnecessary worries and fears.
Life Messages:
- Let us live the lives of Resurrection people: Easter gives us the joyful message that we are a “Resurrection people.” This means that we are not supposed to lie buried in the tomb of our sins, evil habits, dangerous addictions, despair, discouragement, or doubts. Instead, we are expected to live a joyful and peaceful life, constantly experiencing the living presence of the Risen Lord in all the events of our lives and amid the boredom, suffering, pain, and tensions of our day-to-day life.
- We need to live aware of the presence of the Risen Lord with us. Our awareness of the all-pervading presence of the Risen Lord in and around us, and the strong conviction of our own coming resurrection, help us to control our thoughts, desires, words and behavior. This salutary thought inspires us to honor our bodies, keeping them holy, pure, and free from evil habits and addictions. Our conviction about the presence of the Risen Lord in our neighbors and in all those with whom we come into contact should encourage us to respect them, and to render them loving, humble and selfless service.
- We need to radiate the Risen Lord all around us: We are called to be transparent Christians, showing others through our lives the love, mercy, compassion and spirit of self-sacrificing service of the Risen Jesus living in our hearts.
- We need to share in the power of the Risen Lord: Let us recall that, each time we try to practice Christian charity, mercy and forgiveness and each time we fight against temptations we share in the Resurrection of Jesus. (L/20)
"Whom are you looking for "Mary was asked who came to the Tomb. "The empty tomb" LK:24:3 My brothers and sisters in this pandemic Crisis do not look for Jesus in the empty tomb. He is here with us. What we need is the Faith. We are not alone he is with us’.
Wishing you all Happy Easter and May the Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones.
On Easter Sunday, Statue of Risen Jesus will be placed outside the Church (Back of the Church) between 10.AM to 11.A.M you can drive through and pray for few seconds. No getting down from the car or touching the statue. Stay home Safe Home.