We are still filled with the spiritual joy that the solemn celebrations of Easter truly bring to believers' hearts. Christ is risen! The liturgy devotes to this immense mystery not only a day - it would be too little for such joy-, but at least 50 days, that is, the entire Easter Season, which ends with Pentecost.
Easter Sunday, moreover, is an absolutely special day which extends for the whole of this week until next Sunday and forms the Octave of Easter.
In the atmosphere of Paschal joy, today's liturgy takes us back to the sepulchre where, according to St Matthew's account, impelled by their love for him, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to "visit" Jesus' tomb. The Evangelist tells us that he comes to meet them and says: "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me" (Matthew 28: 10).
The joy they felt at seeing their Lord was truly indescribable and, filled with enthusiasm, they ran to tell the disciples.
The Risen One also repeats to us today, as to these women who stayed by Jesus during the Passion, not to be afraid to become messengers of the proclamation of his Resurrection. Those who encounter the Risen Jesus and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear. This is the message that Christians are called to spread to the very ends of the earth.
The Christian faith, as we know, is not born from the acceptance of a doctrine but from an encounter with a Person, with Christ, dead and Risen.
In our daily lives, dear friends, there are so many opportunities to proclaim this faith of ours to others simply and with conviction, so that from our encounter their faith can grow.
And it is more urgent than ever that the men and women of our age know and encounter Jesus, and, also thanks to our example, allow themselves to be won over by him.
— from Pope Benedict XVI, Regina Caeli, 9 April 2007
THANKS! To Karen DeGiorgis and helpers who arranged and ran the children’s Easter Egg Hunt!
MONTHLY CONFESSIONS & ADORATION: 1st Sunday of Month, 10:00-10:45AM at St. George.
MASS READERS: 3/31 Bill/Olivia, 4/7 Karen/Tanya, 4/14 Tina/Kelly, 4/21 Karen/Michael, 4/28 Bill/Olivia
PRAYER LIST: Pray especially for: Ina Freeman, Sue Gilbert, Lucia Matisinova, Charles “Mac” Maguire, Joe O’Rourke, Carla Sovocool, Margaret Reilly, Art Sovocool, Katie Smith, John Smith, Christopher Tomaselli, Mary Weirich.
St. George Parish, c/o St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. 434-293-8081