Happy Easter!
Dear
Parishioners and Friends of Saint Josephine Bakhita Parish,
Greetings and Happy Easter! Jesus is Risen!!
I wish you every blessing with a sincere heart. Like all of you, I stand in awe and wonderment at the truth about the Risen Lord. However, in the context of a world in the midst of a crisis, facing hardship and anxiety, how do we keep the truth alive and before our eyes each day? This year’s Holy Week and this Easter Season offers us an amazing opportunity to profoundly ponder the hope and newness of life…the potential of rising with Jesus now and at the end of time.
As I suggested in my Easter Sunday homily; it seems that God is always tugging at our hearts even when the clouds and darkness of present circumstances want us to deny that tug and presence of our living God. More than ever, we stand in the truth of what we celebrate and believe…He is Risen! Like a tug on our hearts, minds and spirits that can never be taken away!
Like you, I am rediscovering that tug ever more poignantly these day. In the midst of the imposed isolation, that we all rightfully need to live right now…there is, for me anyway, more moments than ever of silence, paying attention and refocusing on what really matters and is lasting.
The “tug” is felt when I see the heroic and brave and generous people who graciously help the sick, comfort the grieving, reach out to the poor and insecure and the lonely. Indeed, Christ is Risen!
We feel the “tug” through the efforts and skills of genuine leaders who offer us wisdom, direction and hope as we face the challenge of a life time. Indeed, Christ is Risen!
When we hear of the gifted and talented people of science, medicine and knowledge offering their best and brightest ideas and plans, we feel the “tug” of God. Indeed, Christ is Risen!
When neighbors, friends, family, community and parishioners valiantly rally together in generosity and valiantly are willing to sacrifice out of love and care…we feel the “tug” of God. Christ, indeed, is Risen!
Trust in the Good News that has always been there tugging at our hearts: Jesus our brother is risen from the dead! And he asks us to join him in that new creation—now! And when our journeys are done we will rise with him for eternity!
Fr. George Couturier
