Word from the Pastor

Easter sunday of the resurrection of the lord

Acts 10:34a, 37-43, Colossians 3:1-4,or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8, John 20:1-9, Matthew 28:1-10 (Lec. 41)

Dear parish family,​

Jesus’ resurrection always matters.
We gather on this Easter Sunday to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead. As we contemplate this event, we might ask: Does the Resurrection have any practical application for our lives today, or is it simply an event in history that no longer bears any relevance to our modern world? To put it simply: Does Easter really matter? ​

If we truly ponder the meaning of Easter, we discover that the answer is a resounding “yes!” First, the Resurrection is the basis of our Christian faith. As Saint Paul says, If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, your faith (1 Cor 15:14). Without the Resurrection, Jesus’ teachings would have shown themselves to be merely human words, and his promise of eternal life would have been for naught. By rising from the dead, Jesus reveals that his teachings are trustworthy; indeed, Jesus’ resurrection “constitutes the confirmation of all Christ’s works and teachings” (CCC 651). ​

Second, Easter makes our own resurrection possible. Jesus assures Martha before he raises Lazarus from the dead: I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live (Jn 11:25). Christ will raise us up at the end of time. Because of Christ’s resurrection, death does not tell the final story. Our lives on earth are only one small chapter of a story that goes on forever. ​

Finally, Easter gives us hope and encouragement as we journey through life. Easter reminds us that life is always worth living. Even when circumstances make it seem as if there is not a brighter day ahead, the Resurrection stands as a reminder that sadness and suffering do not have the final word. Although we might find ourselves in a prolonged period of darkness, eventually, Christ’s light will dawn. Fittingly, the word “easter” itself is derived from an Old English word meaning “dawn” or “toward the sunrise.” ​

Jesus’ triumph over death itself reveals to us that there is no hardship in this life that he has not overcome. The Resurrection gives us hope that where there we experience ignorance, Christ can shatter the darkness to bring his divine knowledge and light. Where we have been trapped in despair, Jesus brings hope. We might ask ourselves on this Easter Sunday, Where has the light started to shine in situations that once seemed so dark? These moments give us a foreshadowing, a tiny glimpse of the power of Christ’s resurrection that we are destined to share fully in the life to come. ​

Today we rejoice because Jesus fulfills his promise that he is the Lord and has power over sin and death. We also rejoice because Jesus’ resurrection gives meaning and hope to our own lives as we face challenges on our earthly pilgrimage. The Resurrection, then, is not just a pivotal moment in the life of Christ; it is also a pivotal moment for us. ​

Fr. Jean Jadotte
Pastor