RISING TOWARD EASTER

FR. STEVE MATTSON

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Today we celebrate the pinnacle of the liturgical year, as we recall the triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ over sin and death. We will sing the Gloria and Alleluia with exuberance, reminding ourselves and all the world that we have been saved.

For me, the joy of celebrating Easter this year will be greater than ever before, because our celebration is “open” and not restricted as it was last year. I can only imagine how much you are rejoicing this year. It breaks my heart to think of how hard it must have been for you to have been barred from partaking of the Sacred Mysteries in person for so long. Indeed, what a difference a year makes! Thank you for your witness of faith, hope, and love. As hard as it has been, you have remained faithful. Since last Pentecost, when we were finally able to gather together in relatively large numbers, we have seen a steady increase in the number of faithful who have gathered together for Mass. Today, as we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, my hope is that the sadness and suffering of this nearly year-long “Lent” will be transformed into a glorious ongoing celebration of our Resurrection Life.

My hope is that the sadness and suffering of this nearly year-long “Lent” will be transformed into a glorious ongoing celebration of our Resurrection Life.

We are given eight days (an Octave) and after that a week of weeks until Pentecost to celebrate the best thing that has ever happened— Christ’s Resurrection. In another six weeks, we will celebrate the Ascension and then, with all the Church, we will anticipate the “Gift of the Father,” which is the Holy Spirit, at Pentecost. Thanks be to God, the Holy Spirit changes everything, including ourselves, if we will let Him. The Lord has committed Himself to transforming us, more and more, into the Image of Christ. This transformation occurs most powerfully through the challenges and trials of this life. We might well think of them as the “Good Fridays” of our lives. Today, we are invited to rejoice that we are not “stuck” on Good Friday, but having died with Him we hear the glorious word once again, “He is risen!”

As we celebrate the 50 Days of the Easter Season, may we all open our hearts and minds to the Easter graces that God offers. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we live more fully our Resurrection Life, bearing witness to Christ in our homes, workplaces, and world. Come, Holy Spirit!