March 27, 2016 — The Resurrection of the Lord; the Mass of Easter Day
Acts 10: 34A, 37-43; Ps 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3: 1-4; Jn 20: 1-9
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that “Easter is not simply one feast among others, but the ‘Feast of feasts,’ the ‘Solemnity of solemnities,’ just as the Eucharist is the ‘Sacrament of sacraments.’ The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with its powerful energy our old time, until all is subjected to Him.” (#1169)
It is difficult for us to fully comprehend the importance of this day and its meaning for us, its fulfillment of hope for us. We consider this to be the most important day on our Church calendar. If we have properly approached the Lenten period, this day comes at the end of a period of prayer and fasting and almsgiving. We should have been prepared to spiritually die with Christ, and to rise as He did on this day to the promise of new life both in this world and the next.
Christ has saved us, and that alone is reason for our joyous celebration. By receiving the Eucharist (communion) on this day, we make a visible sign of our faith and our participation in the Kingdom of God.
Some are here today who may only come to church once a year, but this is the day to come to be sure. We welcome you with the love of Christ, and as good stewards, we invite you to become a more intimate part of our faith community, so that you, too, can realize that “God is good — all the time.”
