The Resurrection of Jesus is the definitive seal of all God’s promises…  
The Resurrection of Jesus is the definitive seal of all God’s promises, the birth-place of a new, risen humanity, the pledge of a history marked by the Messianic gifts of peace and spiritual joy. At the dawn of a new millennium, Christians can and ought to look to the future with steadfast trust in the glorious power of the Risen One to make all things new (cf. Rev 21:5). He is the One who frees all creation from its bondage to futility (cf. Rom 8:20). By his Resurrection he opens the way to the great Sabbath rest, the Eighth Day, when mankind’s pilgrimage will come to its end and God will be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).
 
Here at the Holy Sepulchre and Golgotha, as we renew our profession of faith in the Risen Lord, can we doubt that in the power of the Spirit of Life we will be given the strength to overcome our divisions and to work together to build a future of reconciliation, unity and peace? Here, as in no other place on earth, we hear the Lord say once again to his disciples: “Do not fear; I have overcome the world!” (cf. Jn 16:33).– Pope Saint John Paul II, excerpt from the Homily of Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, Holy Sepulchre – Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – on March 26, 2000
 
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
On this Thursday within the Octave of Easter I would like to draw our focus on the impact of Jesus Christ in our life.  The Lord Jesus has given us a new dignity, an immense importance, and magnificent power to live as Christians in the midst of a fallen world.  This homily of Saint John Paul II from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a wonderful reflection on how in Christ all things are fulfilled.  Certainly it is worth reading the whole thing.
 
To this end, as we celebrate Easter our attention is drawn to the Lord Jesus, crucified and risen, and how He completes the precepts of the Word of God through his life, death, and resurrection.  Further, how the Risen Christ calls each of us to live a more authentic life of faith.  It is easy to say that now that Jesus is Risen all that matters is… fill in your favorite thing about God, the part of his Law that you are already pretty good at doing… and somehow find a way to reduce the value of other aspects of the precepts of the Word of God.  And, it is important to note that in the New Dawn of Easter we are able to see with clearer eyes the bright truth of the Mercy of God, that above all else God wants us to return to him with our whole hearts.  But this is not a license to set aside the parts of Christ’s teaching, the Law and the Prophets, or the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles that are difficult or uncomfortable. 
 
Being a Catholic Christian is both to receive and radiate the Love of God – which is an experience of renewal and healing as well as clear commissioning to announce the Gospel of Christ and live according to Teachings of the Church.  To reduce our faith to only portions of this reality is to reform God according to our own notions, to deny the fullness of his grace and, in conclusion, to worship a false god – one after our image.  In the light of Easter, it would a great little project to read through the teachings of the Church on the Divinity of Jesus, the Sacraments, the Moral Life, and Prayer.  Each is worthy of continuous study and reflection, as we strive to be more authentic members of the Mystical Body of Christ each day.  I would recommend the Catechism of the Catholic Church for teachings on these large subject areas.
 
May the joy and gladness of Easter fill our hearts with the desire to know, love, and serve the Lord in this life, so as to live with him forever in the next.
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 

Easter Week
 
As I have all week, I continue to encourage you to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary each day this week.  Also, I suggest that you read and pray with the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection (Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-7; Lk. 24:1-12; and Jn. 20:1-9).  Also, I invite each of you to pray with Scriptures for Easter Sunday Mass and the Scriptures for Today’s Holy Mass.  It would be good, in these most important days of our faith for you to pray a Spiritual Communion as you spiritually unite your time of prayer to the offering of the Holy Mass.
 
And, please pray the Divine Mercy Novena!
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!