HE HAS RISEN!!!!

Happy Easter to you all. We all have been given a wonderful gift, the gift of an empty tomb. Christ has overcome death itself. The tomb could not hold His great love for us, it has exploded out into the world.

Easter can be a time of gathering with family or friends, feasting on a large meal, or maybe looking for eggs hidden around the house or yard. In all of this wonderful time, let us not forget what is at the very core of Easter. Christ’s Resurrection! It is this Resurrection that gives us a new life with Him. Just like at Christmas you will hear, “Remember the reason for the season”, the same is true for Easter. In all of our business, we should not forget the reason for the season.

I hope you have been able to take part in the Holy Week Liturgies this past week. Easter looses some of its meaning if we do not first remember the price that was paid, the ‘Cross’ gives greater meaning to the empty tomb. Recently the movie ‘Risen’ come out. In my mind it was OK, but took a lot of liberties. Yet it is interesting to think about if we were around at the time… Of the Crucifixion? What would we have thought and felt at seeing Jesus on the cross? At the time of the first Easter morning, hearing about the tomb being empty? What would we have thought of the talk that he had risen from the dead? Over the next few weeks we will hear about Jesus crucified, appearing alive at different times and to different people. What would it have been like to be in the upper room with the disciples? To have Jesus show you his wounds? These can be very prayerful things to meditate on in the weeks to come.

Spring is also a time of “New Birth”. It has appeared to come early this year and that is just fine with me. I already have some flowers pushing up green shoots in my flower garden. I have always been fascinated by watching the new growth of Spring. How these very small shoots of plants will become some very big plants. During this Easter season, we too should experience a “New Birth” in our faith life.

Many of you may be visiting St Luke’s with family or you may not be a regular church goer. This is a wonderful time to come back to the Church. Our Holy Father has been talking about a Year of Mercy, a time for people to come back to the Church, to grow in their faith. I invite you to consider this a time of “New Birth” for you, a Spring time of your faith.

Jesus Christ risen from the dead is not just a historical fact, he lives today and wants to have a relationship with you. Not just now and then, but daily. I know the Catholic Church has gotten a lot of bad press lately, but that is because of a very small number of priest. I too am hurting with all of this. But my relationship with Jesus Christ is what I hold onto. Faith is not something that is ‘dead’, if we practice our faith, it is something that very much comes ‘alive’.

I pray that this Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection can be a time of resurrection for us all. Finding a NEW, the Holy Spirit in our lives, having our faith come alive in relationship with Jesus Christ. A new birth, from that small little shoot to the beautiful plant that bask in the light of the ‘SON’.

Blessings & prayers,
Fr. Backer