Friends, 

I want to wish each of you the joy of the Risen Lord on this Easter Sunday!

Over the years, my own spiritual life and personal focus have become deeply attached to the experience and reality of Easter.  I simply love to set my gaze on the Resurrection of Jesus, on Eternal Life and the mysterious wonder of Heaven. The phrase I repeat most often in my prayers are the words of the two disciples on Easter evening, who said to Jesus as they approached the Village of Emmaus, “Stay with us, Lord!”

Jesus offers us a liberty and freedom that nothing in this world can promise us.  He offers us life in all its fullness, peace and joy eternally. How do we accept this offer and gift?

We accept his offer and gift by imitating him.  Namely, as He laid down His life for us, so we in turn follow his example and offer our life as a total gift of faithfulness to Him. He said, “if you love Me, you will keep My commandments, and My Father and I will come to you, and make Our dwelling with you.”  So, as we ask the Lord to “Stay with us!”, we also promise to stay with Him. We stay with Him by keeping the commands that He gave to us out of love for us. Those commands guide our life, they are a light for our steps, and a pathway to true and lasting peace.

Easter is a season of grace and of light. I pray that we will experience that light and grace anew. To that end, I encourage each one of us to take a few minutes each day during this Holy Season of Easter and contemplate the light and resurrection of Jesus. The season of Easter lasts for 50 days and concludes with Pentecost Sunday. Let’s live each one of these days close to Him in whom our hope rests!

For He is risen, as He said! Alleluia!

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Fr. Mark