My Dear Parishioners, friends and visitors to the Holy Family Catholic Community:
As we come upon the Season of Easter and participate in the Holiest Celebration of the Christian Church (The Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter), we note that as we prepared for this wonderful time during the 40 days of Lent, we have now stepped into the 50-day Celebration of the Season of Easter. Jesus often speaks to His disciples numerous times about how they are celebrating while He is with them. We too celebrate with them as we recognize the great gift of Love that He leaves us with.
For two thousand years, the Church has celebrated the Institution of the Eucharist (the nurturing gift of the constant presence of Christ in the form of bread and wine and love that signifies, which is our salvation) at the Last Supper; The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, for our sins; and the Resurrection from the dead, signifying the gift of Eternal Life for all believers. This is the PASCHAL MYSTERY, that we participate in at every Celebration of the Eucharist.
The Easter season is not just a time of bunnies and eggs, a rite of Spring or the rising of the sun on Easter morning, but it is much more. It is a time where we are participants in the overcoming of our sinful nature. A nature that finds itself lost in the darkness of despair and lacking of purpose and direction. It is a time the Church uses so many symbols to help us all understand the greatest gift of God’s love. It is the gift that brings us out of darkness into the light of Christ, that presents the true meaning of Love and unselfishness, in order that we may be given a better glimpse of our Father in Heaven, “the God of Love.”
As we step into the Season of Easter and the celebrations that continue for several weeks, leading to the birthday of the Church, (Pentecost) we are asked to look at ourselves and evaluate how we have accepted this great gift of love. We are to take hold of it and have it become a part of us.
You know yourselves how you feel when you give a gift to someone only to learn that they have put it aside never to use or enjoy. What must God feel when he looks at each one of us and how we have accepted His gift? With this gift of Salvation and Eternal Life from Christ, we are called as Jesus stated to “let it shine” through our actions and awareness of the importance of this great gift! How will you celebrate Easter? How will you use and share this gift of Salvation and Eternal Life? May your Easter Days be filled with the awareness of what we have celebrated and what you have received!
Sincerely,
Very Rev. John C. Giel, V.G.,
Pastor
