Octave of Easter

04-07-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Fred Adamson

Dear Parishioners,

Today, April 7th we complete the Octave of Easter. Eight days of an intense celebration of the Risen Lord, but not still in the fifty days of Easter. Called as a people to continue to celebrate that we are an Easter People. That Jesus is risen from the dead. We live with new hope, joy and peace in Him.

I found this beautiful Easter prayer from our patron, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux:

Lord, you have passed over into new life, and you now invite us to pass over also. In these past days we have grieved at your suffering and mourned at your death. We have given ourselves over to repentance and prayer, to abstinence and gravity. Now at Easter you tell us that we have died to sin. Yet, if this is true, how can we remain on Earth? How can we pass over to your risen life, while we are still in this world? Will we not be just as meddlesome, just as lazy, just as selfish as before? Will we not still be bad-tempered and stubborn, enmeshed in all the vices of the past? We pray that as we pass over with you, our faces will never look back. Instead, let us, like you, make Heaven on Earth. Amen.

This prayer is a great reminder that we are called to live differently as an Easter people. While the world and things of the world do not always change what does change is our heart, our lives that are supposed to be a witness of the Risen Lord today. We live as people of hope with the promise of heaven always in our minds. We live differently – focused on Him, connected to Him, following Him, loving like Him, forgiving like Him, responding to betrayal, hurt, denial like Him; we turn everything over to the Father in deep trust like Him. We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song!

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who made our wet Eater Sunday a beautiful and welcoming one. I am guessing we had close to 6,000 people at the five Masses. We were blessed to have 11 Baptisms/full initiations in addition to 8 Confirmations – the Vigil was truly joy filled. Everyone was welcoming and helpful to our many guests. It was truly an all-in for the whole community. Thanks to God and to you for your generous witness of commitment to Jesus and our parish. You are the Church, the people of God and the first witnesses of hospitality and welcome. We are blessed.

A reminder that next week at the 9:00 am Mass we will have Fr. Don Kline, our Vicar Forane (Dean), here to celebrate Confirmations and First Holy Communions. The Mass will be a little longer and with more guests. We pray for these young people who will receive the confirming love of God through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the gift of the Holy Eucharist for the first time.

Easter Peace and Joy,

Fr. Fred