Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Happy Easter to you All!  The Lord is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Today we celebrate the high point of the Church’s liturgical year. The day when Jesus rose from the dead opening the way for us to be one with the Father. The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. The gospel tells us of Peter and John who run to the tomb and find it empty. It says that when John entered the tomb “he saw and believed.” But what did he see – he saw the absence of Jesus and he believed. He did not simply see physically, but he saw with the light of faith.

Pope Francis says; “Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms.”

As you gather in various places today to celebrate with a meal, let me encourage you to pause for a moment and have each person at the table mention something that they are grateful for. God is good and it is only right we acknowledge his goodness.

God bless,
Fr. Tony