What a Lent it has been! “Come on Easter!”

The Easter Season is all about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of Eternal Life—a life that does not end, a life that is complete with unending joy, perfection and happiness—a life that has us sharing in Christ’s own Divine Life for all eternity.

This week I, along with Kathi Bonner and Manuela Hanshaw, completed our Confirmation candidates’ interviews—normally this is done in person at the church but obviously this year we had our interviews via FaceTime, a new experience for me. The interview comprises a series of questions on the faith they have been studying in our Faith Formation program including but not limited to a discussion on the Trinity, the meaning of the Beatitudes in our modern lives, defining and selecting the “most important” gift of the Holy Spirit, the meaning of the Creed, as well as questions on how they might “finish” Christ’s mission in-and-through their manner of life and why Pentecost has such great meaning in our personal faith lives.

One question on the Sacraments asks, “who gave them to us and what do they provide us with”, and in this we find the is the meaning of Easter: in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, His victory over human death, and offering to us Eternal Life, if we but choose Him and His Ways.

In the seven Sacraments Christ gives us grace, a supernatural gift of His Love that enables us to do and become better Christians. In Baptism we receive a grace to wipe away original sin that enables us to freely love God back in our lives; Confession graces us with His Love and make us stronger, enabling us to empty ourselves of sin; in Eucharist we are nourished and strengthened, able to travel the journey of life with more resolve to live in right-relationship with God and with others; in Holy Matrimony or Priestly Ordination we receive particularly graces (love) that (in marriage) we are able to join with our spouses and so make all decisions going forward as one—it’s no longer what I want but rather what is best for us or our family; in Ordination one receives grace to understand a new family dynamic and to desire for the excellence of others while sanctifying, preaching and teaching; and, in the Anointing of the Sick we receive a special grace to be completely healed—not freed from cancer or another illness, not even to “buy” more time on this earth, but rather to be healed for the final journey home, to have our soul made one with God.

In that singular Sacramental question we come to understand the meaning of Easter—Christ’s death and Resurrection—is Love; it is a powerful, supernatural love that grants us graces beyond graces, that gives us hope in the midst of trial and tribulation—and even in a andemic—that we are called to be selfless and in that Christian virtue we see Love of others as a priority. In that Christian virtue we experience the benefit of Grace and we know Easter. That our Savior has lived our life already. That our Savior has already experienced our fears and sufferings, He has lived the family life in difficult times, He has experienced the differences of opinions and
perhaps even the hurt feelings, and yes, He has even experienced death—and Resurrection. Be not afraid, for  where we all will eventually go and what we all must live through now, Christ has been and is already there. Be Not Afraid!

I wish you all a very happy, Blessed and Holy Easter Season. I ask God to bless us with good emotional, spiritual and physical health; and, that soon our family of faith will meet again. Peace, Fr. Michael