Dear friends,
Happy Easter! Christ is Risen, Alleluia! He is truly Risen, Alleluia!
Today we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. Saint Paul says, “… if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile…” Today we celebrate that undoubtable truth: Christ is Risen from the dead.
Now, what does this mean for us? That our sins are forgiven and that we are renewed as new creatures. We leave behind all of our old ways of life to embrace the new life in Christ. Renewal is different and contradictory to postponing or delaying. It means that we truly are new people because we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb that was slain. The image of the easter egg is inspiring here. To celebrate Easter means that we are hatching, coming out of our own bubble to new life. We are born again.
This latter expression can seem more of evangelical or Pentecostal mind. But did not Jesus tell Nicodemus that unless we are born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God? To be born again means here to be washed in the waters of baptism and to die with Jesus Christ in our sins and to embrace new life in Him who died and rose from the dead for our salvation. Let us then look and observe around us and find out the ways we can reflect the new life in Christ as we proclaim with Saint Paul that, “my present life it is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me.” At this Easter, we are called to let Christ live in us. This means for us to let the “child of God” in us bloom and grow.
So let me wish you all a Happy and Blessed easter.
To those who were away from the Church and are back, I say welcome home. Christ has never turned His eyes away from you. You are his loved ones and it is for you also that He gave His life. We are very happy and blessed that you are here, and have chosen Holy Cross for your family. Welcome back home and Happy Easter.
To our guests and visitors, I say welcome to your family. Thank you for choosing Holy Cross to celebrate the victory of Christ upon sin and death. We are blessed to have you with us. May the Lord who brought here continue what He has started in you and your loved ones.
To our parishioners here at Holy Cross, I would like to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Easter. May the Lord who took upon himself our shortcomings and infirmities bring you and your loved ones His peace that no one can take from you. And may the renewal he brings us take us all from the ashes of our brokenness to rise with Him to new life.
Happy and Blessed Easter to all.
Fr. Emery