Living the Resurrection

The Lord is Risen! It is such a joy for our community and the whole world as we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Savior. Jesus died to save us from sin, and he rose from the dead to give us new life in himself. 

As we celebrate this feast together, we know that the church gets full with people who come often, as well as with people who only come once in a while, and so in this short Easter message, I would like to address all of you. 

If you come to Church only once or twice a year:

Know that Jesus loves you and died for you. This world can put pressure on you to act a certain way, to speak a certain way and to be a certain way. This world can make you feel like your self-worth is judged based on how much money you have, how famous you are or how you look. But Jesus tells you that your self-worth is defined by his love for you. 

The Son of God came down to earth to die on the cross for you. He not only died on the cross, but took your sins and all the sins of the world on himself. After having given his life for you, he gave you a way to always remember that incredible gift: his real Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Christ’s gift of love is waiting for you always. I encourage you to take advantage of this gift and to challenge yourself to participate in the life-giving grace that Christ gives in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, where we are united to Christ in his passion, death and Resurrection.

If you come to Church once in a while:

Know that there is no one that loves you more than God does. Out of love he created you, and out of love he died for you. Try to see the love of Christ in every little thing that happens in your life. Try to see that the love of God can be spread through you. Receive love from the source of love Himself and spread it to others. Show others that you truly believe in Christ by the actions that you do. 

Make a stronger effort to come to Church more often, at least every Sunday. When we give God a part of our week, he will bless us and guide us on the right path. When we give God a part of our day through prayer, reading the Bible or Eucharistic Adoration, he will bless all of our efforts to succeed in this world and the next. 

If you come to Church every Sunday:

Know that you are called to be a saint. Being a saint is not only for priests and nuns but for every human being. To be a saint means to be holy, and to be holy means to be like Christ, who lived a life of complete obedience to his Father, especially when it was hardest to obey. 

Try to think of a way that you can be holier in your daily life. Try to make sure that your every thought, word and action is in line with what God would want of you. Try to live always asking yourself if you are doing God’s will. Realize how much God’s gift of grace is available to you, not only at Sunday Mass but every day and in every moment of your life. Take advantage of the daily Masses we have offered at the Church, take advantage of the Eucharistic Adoration chapel, take advantage of every opportunity you have to gain strength by the grace of God so that you can give it to others who are in desperate need of it.

May the joy of the Risen Lord be with you all. We pray constantly for all of the members of our church. We ask that God guides on the path to heaven and gives you his joys and blessings always.