Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Archbishop of Constantinople and Early Church Father, Saint John Chrysostom wrote in the third century:
O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
Indeed Christ has risen and he comes to us as he came to the first disciples, and we are called to open our hearts to the risen presence. Yet, our belief starts with the empty tomb which announces the stark reality of death. This empty tomb sends us out, just like the apostles, to announce something new, that Jesus has risen from the dead. Only when the risen Lord repeatedly comes to us, does out own belief and meaning of the empty tomb continually grow.
Our celebration of the resurrection of Christ is a celebration of joy and hope. We are challenged to become more aware of Christ living in our presence and Christ being present in our daily lives. Through our baptismal anointing and identity as the body of the risen Christ, we can claim that death no longer holds us bound to sin, and death does not hold us in its grip. The final word is risen life. In Jesus Christ death is overcome. In Jesus Christ each of us is invited to share in immortality.
As our hearts are turned toward the risen Jesus during this Holy Season, let us continue to make Jesus present in the lives of all the people around us, in order for those who don’t know Christ, to see the risen Christ in us.
This Easter, I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Pamella Pitman our Director of Liturgy and Music, and Deacon Charles Pittman, along with their Son: Christopher who have helped bring the Mass and Liturgical celebrations to all the STHY electronically on line. Even during these trying times, it still takes the work of a handful of people to make things happen.
We will continue to do our best to provide the faithful of STHY with a video of the Easter Masses. Soo Please go ahead and subscribe to our St. Hyacinth YouTube and Vimeo channel for videos and live stream updates. All Liturgies are posted and streamed on our parish website as well.
With the Coronavirus affected every aspect of the Church I want to challenge everyone to continue to support the Church during this time. I ask the faithful to continue to support the St Hyacinth community through on-line giving or by mail. This will ensure that our parish will be able to meet payrolls and pay monthly bills. Go to online giving tab at Sthyacinth.org and and click the Faith Direct Icon or give online through PayPal, Text to Give, or simply mail in your contribution into the Church. Thank you for your support.
On behalf of all the Staff here at St. Hyacinth we wish you all a Blessed Easter!
Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen! Alleluia!
God Bless,
Fr. Reginald Samuels
