Happy and Blessed Easter to Everyone!
Happy and blessed Easter to everyone!
Easter brings hope, victory over sin and death. Today, we may look around and wonder whether there is a place for hope. We see so much pain, dehumanization, suffering, and death. On one side, thousands of people die in the war zone. On the other side, we see people die of starvation or other reasons. In many circumstances dignity of life is diminished. Violence and death became part of our daily lives. We may be tempted to say it is the end of everything.
The empty tomb is a sign of Hope. It says beyond the grave, there is life. We read in the Gospel of Matthew 28:5&6, the angel said, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.” He has Risen! Alleluia!! I wish you all a Blessed Easter!
It is beautiful to walk through the Easter reading. The Old Testament readings of the Easter Vigil tell us the covenant history of salvation: beginning with creation and extending to the prophetic promises of a new covenant. The first reading from the Book of Genesis (1:1-2:2), narrates the fundamental doctrine of creation and prepares us for the renewal of Baptismal promises as a new creation. In the second reading, also from the book of Genesis 22:1-18, Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son. It is the high point of Abraham’s covenant relationship with God and a blessing on his descendants. On Good Friday, our Heavenly Father allows his only begotten Son to be crucified on Calvary. In the third reading from the book of Exodus, the Israelites marched on the dry land through the midst of the sea (14:15-5:1). The parting of the sea is a critical Old Testament type of baptism.
The next two readings are from the book of Isaiah. In the fourth reading, the Lord will, with his enduring love, resume his covenant love for Zion and rebuild with precious stones and grant it righteousness and prosperity (54:5-14). This reading shapes the minds of believers, especially those receiving the Sacraments, about the Church's dual reality as both Bride and Temple. The fifth reading is an invitation for a meal. The Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher, and His words will not return empty (55:1-11). This passage is associated with the Gospel of Matthew (14:13-21), the account of the feeding of the five thousand. Ultimately, it leads to the Eucharist. This reading prepares us to reaffirm our faith, particularly those who are prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. The next reading is from the book of the prophet Baruch, which talks about wisdom and law (3:9-15, 32-4:4). It is an invitation to walk towards the splendor of the Lord and live the faith to the full. The seventh reading from the Book of Ezekiel discusses the restoration of Israel (36:16-17, 18-28). The Lord will gather the Israelites from exile, cleanse them by sprinkling the clean water, and give them a new heart and a new spirit, so they can grow in the law of love. The Sacrament of Baptism is the new cleansing and the Holy Spirit renewing the heart to grow in the law of love.
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We made the Way of the Cross to Calvary and visited the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. We celebrated Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the Church of the Sepulcher, we can see the place where Jesus was crucified, “Golgotha,” and next to it is a small church within the Church of the Sepulcher, which is the empty tomb of Christ – the Church of Resurrection.
Easter Sunday Gospel reading from John (20: 1-9) starts with “On the first day of the week.” The Gospel for Easter Vigil Mass (Matthew 28:1-10) starts by saying, “After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning.” Here, Matthew and John highlight the connection between Easter and Sunday: the Sabbath was over, and the first day of the week. In other words, it was on Sunday that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. The book of Genesis, chapters one and two, gives us a creation account. God created everything, and finally human beings as the crown of creation, and on the seventh day God rested. We read in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.”
The first day of the week recalls the first creation. After the Sabbath, the first day of the week, Christ, through his death and resurrection, made everything new. God didn’t just come to save us; he came to make all things new – New Creations. Let us rise with him on Easter and become his new creation. He has Risen! Alleluia!! Happy Easter!
Thank you to everyone who helped with Holy Week liturgies. Decorators, musicians, readers, greeters, servers, all those who donated the Easter Lilies and plants, all those who actively participated, and the list goes on and on. Thank you!