My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

This is the echoed sentiment we hear and will continue to hear as we enter into this Holy Season of Easter. We are called to rejoice and be glad for this is the day the Lord has made. The hymns we sing and the prayers we pray and the readings we proclaim are filled with an expression of joy and exaltation in this great gift of God. Jesus has died for our sin and through his resurrection has opened the door to Heaven for all who believe.

But where is the rejoicing? Where is the gladness? Where is the exaltation?

Many say that we, as Catholics, are not demonstrative and do not express ourselves outwardly. Well I have seen Catholics get pretty excited about a sports game. I have seen people outwardly jubilant when they won the lottery. I have witnessed whooping and hollering when the groom kisses his bride at a reception. No, we do express ourselves demonstratively. But something holds us back when it comes to expressing ourselves in a like manner about the joy of our faith and more specifically of expressing our joy of Jesus in our lives every day.

I believe we simply need to adjust our focus. Like the sentiment of our society today we can be focused on the passing “stuff” of the world with a blurred vision of what is our real goal that which Jesus suffered, died and rose for, namely our eternity with God in Heaven.

So as we enter into this beautiful Season of Easter I suggest we pause and look for Jesus in all that we do. The Apostles and the Disciples went looking for Jesus after his resurrection. They yearned to see him, feel him, and experience him in their lives in a new and dynamic way. And so should we. It is simple refocusing. But when we do we may find a new feeling of joy, gladness and exaltation which we might not be able to contain. Then let the world know who we are. We are Roman Catholics saved by the Blood of the Lamb and brought to the fullness of faith in Jesus Christ.

May the grace of our Risen Lord be with you.

Fr. Mick