Happy Easter - "He is Risen"

During the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening I often find myself thinking about the sense of awe and wonder experienced by those women and men at the empty tomb that morning. Fear and sadness was replaced with joy as they witnessed first hand the reality of the Resurrection. Now, two thousand years later, the truth of the Resurrection of Our Lord stills bring us joy and the promise of eternal life. The hope of salvation that Easter brings is sorely needed in these troubled times. While it may seem as if the world around us is failing into chaos, and the whole of Christendom is under attack on many fronts, as we reflect on the events of Easter we know that the biggest battle has already been fought and won on our behalf.

So on this most glorious of days, we are reminded that we must continue to face opposition and persecution head on. Satan is hard at work in this world. His minions do his bidding willingly, if naively, deceiving with false promises, twisting the truth until evil passes for good. We are led to believe that evil doesn't exist, that morality is subjective, and that material happiness outweighs the value of human life. Government fiat replaces personal responsibility. But today, the empty tomb reminds us otherwise. The promise of Easter gives us the strength to persevere.

Here's wishing you a blessed and joy-filled Easter. May the joy of the Resurrection remain in your life all year long.

Mass at Jesus' Final Resting Place
The Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem
Photo by Colleen, 2010

And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre. She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. ... For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

--John 20: 1-2, 9.