If you missed Pope Francis’ Easter Message and Urbi et Orbi blessing on television this morning, click here to watch it on the Vatican News channel.
The link above begins with the Pope’s Easter Message to the world; click here for the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
Death is not final
The first Easter parade was just a crowd of women going down the street where once they had sung Hosanna. Another time they had gone with him to death. Now it is just themselves – two Marys, Joanna and other women. The parade was dull, without the one they followed – but they wanted to care for the body with spices, using only the best.
And then it was all different. They saw no body, which frightened them more than any death could have. Then there were angels with strange messages, but their hearts believed quickly and they remembered what he had said. Often, he had talked of death and resurrection. He was the sort of man for whom evil and death could not be final.
They were then to go to the apostles, and they were to find out that caring for Christ’s body now would be a different thing. The women announced this divine news to the men. This would have been contrary to the culture at the time, but Jesus went against a lot of beliefs and prejudices.
Caring for the body of Christ now means caring for each other. They would spend the rest of their lives caring for the new body of Christ, and we’re the same in caring and being cared for. The risen Christ is in all of us.
We are his body. Not a word of God can be spoken without human words. God reaches us through each other.
The Easter parade now is made up of all of us following our risen Lord, following life that never dies, and the truth of the gospel that can keep us going. This is the love of the risen Lord, which is the lifeblood of the Church.
Jesus Christ you are risen,
you are risen indeed,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Donal Neary S.J.
On Holy Saturday, 19th April, we will celebrate the Polish tradition of Święconka, the Blessing of Easter Baskets.
We invite families to gather in the parish church with their Easter Baskets at 11.30 am for the blessing. All are welcome: click here for directions.
The link below includes the blessing prayers in Polish and a summary in English, and an explanation of the contents and symbolism of the baskets.
Please spread the word to anyone who may be interested in participating.
Please click here for the timetable of Holy Week and Easter Ceremonies in Holy Trinity Parish.
Who was there at the end?
Who was there at the end? The friends of Jesus: from a distance, but still around. They stayed near, not wanting to leave. Did they all stand around for a while? Wanting to go and not wanting to go, like mourners at a graveside – confused, sad and discouraged – silent in the moments of violent death. Were they afraid that this might happen to them too? The friends and acquaintances of Jesus, the one who promised much and said he would rise again… Did any of them remember this promise? Did they whisper it to each other as they closed the stone at the tomb? Did they wonder if more was yet to come? For there was always more with Jesus.
We are that ‘more’!
There also was the centurion: the good man who said, ‘he was a Son of God’. The one from Rome saw through the many from Jerusalem. He was a strange type of guy at the cross – the Roman who had been told to get these crucifixions done, with the least amount of trouble and publicity. Away from home and his own people, he would find a new God in the home of his heart and would be linked forever to a new people.
Something about this man gave a scent of love, and an authority that came from somewhere far away – further than an emperor or a political power. He knew that this man was a Son of God; may we know this too of Jesus.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free.
You are the saviour of the world.
Donal Neary S.J.