Easter Sunday
Pastor
~ The Lord is risen! Alleluia!
Happy Easter to all! All Christians are filled with joy this day to see Jesus Christ victorious over the powers of sin and death. We know that life will be victorious, for Jesus has already won the victory! Let us take hope from this day, especially when life overwhelms us, and always remember that life will be victorious.
Welcome to all who come to St. Margaret of Scotland today for our Easter celebrations! It is my hope and expectation that St. Margaret is radically hospitable to everyone, so I hope that everyone finds a warm welcome here. If you are visiting from out of town or from another parish, welcome! If you are visiting relatives or home for the holiday, welcome! If you are searching for a parish home, welcome! If it has been a while since you’ve been in a Church, welcome! If you are part of another religion or faith tradition, welcome! Women, men, young adults, teens, children; married, committed, or single; Black, White, Asian, or Latino; from a blue, red, or purple state; pious, faithful, searching, or confused; straight or LGBTQ; able-bodied or disabled; native born, immigrant, or refugee – Jesus loves us all, and so must all who follow him as Christians. Easter is the biggest and best day of the year for Christians, but I hope that everyone who comes to St. Margaret today will return week after week, Sunday after Sunday, to be part of this amazing, faith-filled parish.
If it is Easter, is must also be Spring! It seems like winter and spring have been in a fierce struggle these past weeks, but Easter assures us that winter’s grip is loosening! As we watch our earth come back to life in the weeks to come, let us enjoy, savor, and revel in these glorious Spring and Easter days! Go outside, gather with your friends and family, enjoy a meal, plant your garden, walk in the park, go to a museum, plan a vacation, eat some chocolate, drink some wine, sleep in, stay up late, sing a song, draw, color, paint, read, rejoice! During these 50 days of Easter, but especially today and this week, enjoy doing what makes you happy and brings you life. The days of Lenten penance are past; now it is time for us to come back to life with Christ. After all, Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it in abundance.” Now it is Easter! Now is the time!
These Easter days will be filled with wonderful celebrations. Our 7th Graders will celebrate Confirmation, the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit, this Easter Thursday, April 9. Our 2nd Graders will receive their First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 3. Deacon Dominic Jean, OP will be ordained a priest on Saturday, May 16, and celebrate his First Mass here at St. Margaret of Scotland on Sunday, May 17, the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Many of us will celebrate anniversaries, weddings, Graduations, and other milestones with our family and friends in the weeks to come. Our joy at these life events is only increased by the joy of Eastertime!
Thanks to all who made our celebrations of Holy Week, the Triduum, and this Easter Sunday so beautiful and prayerful: all the parish staff; all who helped prepare our liturgies; our lectors and ministers; our servers and Hospitality Minsters; Orin Johnson, Steve Neale, and our choirs, cantors, and instrumentalists; Ruth Pera and all those who helped prepare and form our newest Catholics; all those who helped decorate and prepare our worship space; those who donated money for Easter flowers; all who made Easter chalk drawings, and especially all who attended and celebrated the most holy days of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Easter is the best time of the year and Sunday is the best day of the week, so rejoice with me! We are blessed and God is good! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
