Gospel Reflection for Easter Sunday
Let us sing in our hearts and lift them up with praise and exaltation because Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is risen from the dead. He died for us, pouring out his Divine Life on the Cross. Through his death and Resurrection, he has conquered death and gives eternal Life to all who will embrace it. Human words cannot express the majesty of this truth. It is nothing less than the most glorious and wonderful work of God. It gives meaning to everything we can know.
We who believe in the reality of the Resurrection know that this world is only the beginning. God has so much more prepared for those who love him. Even the fear of physical death cannot oppress us because we have true freedom as children of God. This is not a vague hope or a subjective interpretation of a nebulous human emotion. The Lord Jesus showed himself plainly to his Disciples and ate with them after the Resurrection. And he is with us now! So, the gift of hope is being constantly renewed in us.
In this world we receive so many blessings from God who is good and gracious to all. Our experience of these blessings can lead us to deeper faith if we recognize them and give thanks. On the other hand, we may fail to recognize God’s Providence in the ordinary, familiar things of life. Friends and family may get taken for granted. Natural beauty may be ignored. Even our bodies and minds may not be fully appreciated as gifts from a loving God. And then, even when we do acknowledge these gifts there is still a longing for something more. The good things of this world can never fully satisfy our deepest longings because we have been created for God himself, only He can satisfy us completely.
Since the Lord Jesus is the source and object of our faith, we need to remain with him. He is also the Light that will help us to discern and choose what is good. To remain with Jesus, the source of our hope and faith, we need to be where he is, that is the Church.
In John the Evangelist’s account of the Resurrection, we hear of different reactions at the sight of the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene assumes that someone has stolen the body of Jesus. She runs to tell the others. Peter and the Beloved Disciple run to the tomb, enter, and see the burial cloths there. This is not something that they would see if the body had been taken. The Evangelist declares that the Beloved Disciple ‘saw and believed.’ As for Peter, it seems that there still was a lack of understanding. But as we hear in the Acts of the Apostles, his later experience of the Risen Lord and the Gift of the Holy Spirit, impelled him to announce the Resurrection and give his life for the Gospel. Mary Magdalene also, because of her deep love for Jesus, experienced him and remained close to him in the Community of Believers.
Most of us do not have the strong immediate Faith of the Beloved Disciple. We must grow from the planted seed. That seed is usually sown at Baptism and watered in our families when we are young. But not always. Sometimes the growth happens during our lives in events of pain or loss. Sometimes the growth happens when we experience life changing events and decide to pursue that for which we search until we find him in the Church. Whatever path we take, God wants all of us to grow to maturity of faith and to experience the fullness of his joy. He is always patient with us. He wants us to grow and bloom wherever we are planted, in whatever vocation or occupation. But it is critically important to remember that we need to remain in the Church. We must come to the Light in order to find him. Jesus is the Light and the Truth and he draws us to himself in the Church.
It was because of their experience of the Risen Lord in the Eucharist that the early disciples grew in faith and courage and love. The same is true for us. If we want to find him, we must come to Jesus in the Eucharist. And we must come consistently. We cannot grow in Faith unless we are continually nourished by the Bread of Life in the Eucharist.
How do we know that we are growing in Faith and that we are drawing closer to the Source of eternal life? How do we deepen the experience of loving Christ and feeling his love? We must respond! We have every opportunity to respond to God’s love here in the Church. We have opportunities for service. We help the poor and contribute to building the church. We teach the faith to others, especially the young. We have opportunities for continued growth as we study the scriptures together and share our experiences with each other in community. We support each other when there is need for consolation and encouragement. We have many opportunities for witness.
Our friends and many others are struggling to find happiness or fulfillment. They may think that it comes from possessions, prestige, power, or pleasure, but these will always disappoint. By the Grace of the Eucharist, we can help them. Gently challenging them with patience and friendly encouragement, we can help them to find Truth. He is here in the Church. He is Risen, he is present now and he lives and reigns forever and ever.
If you cannot join us for the Sunday liturgies, please know that we will be praying for you. We encourage everyone to participate in the Masses offered online and on TV https://adw.org/live-streamed-masses-and-prayers/. Remember to pray for Spiritual Communion.
OUTDOOR OPTION FOR MASS.
Fr. Robert will celebrate Mass inside Church on Easter Sunday at 9:00 am, 10:30 am and 12 Noon. You may come inside (Covid restrictions continue). Alternatively, you may remain outside in your car with engine off. Speakers will broadcast Mass outside. Bring your chairs and blankets if you wish to sit outside your car.
Eucharistic Ministers will distribute Communion outdoors.
Ushers will take up a collection. To make a contactless, one-time donation to Holy Cross, visit the parish website (www.hcrosschurch.org) and click on “One-Time Donation.” The link will take you to a Faith Direct option where you can use your credit card and you do not have to enroll.
QR Code that links for Holy Cross YouTube page:
http://bit.ly/HC_GP_YouTube
Poor Box – THIS WEEK’S POOR BOX will benefit the SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE to support the mission of the Social Concerns Committee to assist the needy in our community, primarily in our Parish. The ability to handle requests received for some limited financial assistance is dependent on these poor box collections as the only means of support. Donations to the Social Concerns Committee can be made at any time and directed to the Rectory. Make your check payable to Holy Cross Church with the designation of Social Concerns on your check. Holy Cross parishioners continue to be very generous and for that we are very grateful!
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Joseph Romanchik - April 5 (M), 8:30 am
Ruth Romanchik - April 6 (T), 8:30 am
Ramona Koomsa - April 7 (W), 8:30 am
Dorothy Ricketts - April 8 (Th), 8:30 am
Liliana Shirzanian - April 9 (F), 8:30 pm
Joe and Larry Berry - April 10 (Sat), 8:30 am
The Capozzola Family - April 10 (Sat), 5:00 pm
All Holy Cross Catechists, Teachers, Administrators and Staff - April 11 (Sun), 9:30 am
People of Holy Cross - April 11 (Sun), 12 Noon
To schedule a Mass intention, email parishsecretary@hcrosschurch.org or call the office at 301-942-1020.
The 2021
Annual Appeal
is still underway.
Please help
Holy Cross
reach our goal.
Please keep the sick and elderly of our parish in your prayers, especially…
Melinda Alde, Evelyn Articola, Marion Ballmann, Teresa Basso, Jerry Behnke, Albena Borisnova-Petkova, Molly Chantry, Michael Chettle, Joyce Choi, Tom Choi, Young Choi, Luis Alejandro Guevara Coello, Dorothy Conroy, Ray Dean, Barbara Desiderati, David Dikel, John Paul Durkin, Karen Dwyer, Joe Gagnon, Kathleen Gagnon, Demos Georganas, Myriam Gonzalez, Michael Gouzoulis, Susan Grisby, Eileen Haggart, Betty Harrison, Carlos Hernandez, Evan Hilburn, Stephanie, Hipsley, Charlene Hubbard, Bo Hunt, Dan Johnson, Doris Johnson, Jamie Kaufmann, Mary Lee Leonard, Mary Dell Levandosky, Ray Mitchell, Palmer Jane McNeill, Markie Mlynarczyk, Richard Moellering, Jr., Nelson de Melo Dias Neto, Ellen Noland, Estelle Nguyen, William Nothwang, Sue Numrich, Silvia Pugliese, Dan Reinwall, Jessica Ringler, David Roberts, Alma Rusley, Nancy Rupertus, Rebecca Shepherd, Patricia Spodnik, David Skola, Patricia Tellish, and Philip Wright.
Please contact the Parish Secretary to add or remove someone’s name from our list.
Remember in Prayer those who have died, especially Sally Bush and John Abernethy.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
Ways for you to continue your support of Holy Cross.
Donate by credit card via Faith Direct -
Visit our website: www.hcrosschurch.org. Click on One-Time Donation.
You may make a donation without enrolling in Faith Direct or,
if you are enrolled in Faith Direct, you can choose to not log in.
Enroll in e-giving at www.faithdirect.net or call 866-507-8757 (toll-free)
to use your bank account or credit card for recurring donations.
Use your bank's bill pay.
Drop off your contribution in the mail slot in the Rectory office door
Mail your offering to Holy Cross Church, PO Box 249, Garrett Park, MD 20896
Thank you!