WE ARE A RESURRECTION PEOPLE! WE ARE THE PILGRIMS OF HOPE!
The Lord is Risen! He is truly Risen! Alleluia Alleluia!
Dearly beloved Parishioners,
Today we rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ, Jesus’ triumph over sin and death. He heals our souls wounded by sin, brings Light to our Darkness and gives us HOPE in our despair. His Love, Joy and Peace fill our brokenness, emptiness and loneliness. New life is offered to all who cling to Jesus in Faith.
Easter is a time of RENEWAL, REBIRTH and NEW BEGINNINGS. It’s an opportunity for those who have strayed from GOD to RESET and RECONCILE totally with God.
It is a great joy to see the Risen Lord raise and set free those plagued through the years, by the memories of their hurtful past. Sing to the Lord of life for He is truly RISEN! The HOPE of our Eternal and Everlasting life has dawned upon us.
Abraham Lincoln was a ‘backwoodsman’ in his early life, who rose from humble beginnings to the heights of political power to become the 16th President of the United States. During the dark days of the American Civil War, he led the nation as a compassionate and resolute President. Depression and mental pain were his frequent companions. Four months after the devastating Battle of Gettysburg, while walking amidst the about 50000 graves on the battlefield, Lincoln first committed his life to Christ. He explained later, “When I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me; I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I saw the grave of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ. Yes, I do love Jesus.”
Life’s most painful tragedies can bring us to a deeper understanding of the Savior who is the Resurrection and the Life.
Though tragedy, heartache, and sorrow abound
And many a hardship in life will be found,
Just put all your trust in the Savior of light,
For He can bring hope in the darkest of night.
Like Abraham Lincoln and many others, each of us face hurts and brokenness in our life journey. Many end up blaming themselves and are filled with guilt, shame, darkness and emptiness. They refuse to talk about it to anyone lest they be hurt further.
The graveyard of his soldiers convinced Abraham Lincoln that there is Life beyond and there is everlasting Hope beyond. His entire perspective of who he was, of what role he played, and of what God was doing through all the pain and challenges had changed. Lincoln’s time in office after this moment was marked by a devout godliness.
Christianity is a journey, a daily journey of being a follower of Christ. Every disciple of Christ who experiences betrayal, denial, abandonment, rejection, mockery and suffers unjustified persecution is called to follow the Way of the Cross by participating in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ.
Only through the GOOD FRIDAYS of LIFE can there be an EASTER. As disciples of Our Lord Jesus, we are called to be Pilgrims of HOPE journeying with the Risen Lord.
God desires that each of us make a fresh start.
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
A new beginning awaits anyone willing to allow and wanting to make Jesus the Lord of their Life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”
Allow Jesus to transform your Good Friday into Easter, Allow Him to make all things new in your life.
On behalf of Our Parish Team, wishing each one of you a HAPPY AND JOYOUS EASTER.
May the Risen Lord meet you on your journey of life with His compassion, love and Divine mercy.
Fr. John Mascarenhas SVD
Parish Priest