The news is once again proclaimed to the world: Christ is Risen! And the word we have longed to sing over the last 40+ days finally resonates throughout the church, Alleluia!
Today is Easter Sunday.
As Catholics, this is the pinnacle of the Church year. And just like Peter and John did in the gospel when they heard the tomb was empty, we run toward the source of joy ourselves. We run here, to our church, to celebrate the good news.
We celebrate Christ’s risen life—through song, through our prayer, through the account of the empty tomb in the Scriptures, through the renewal of our baptismal promises, but so importantly in the Eucharist, because in the Eucharist Christ’s new life is consumed in us.
The discovery of the empty tomb never is an individual experience, but just like in the gospel, it takes a communion of people—a group of disciples, a parish, the universal Church—to discover the enormity of it all and to proclaim what we’ve witnessed.
New life is found within all of us who have been baptized and receive the Sacraments of the Church, the Sacraments of God’s grace and goodness alive, active, and part of our everyday lives.
So on Easter, we not only celebrate Christ risen from the dead, we also celebrate Christ’s life coming alive in all of us. We’re the Body of Christ in the world today.
The tomb is empty—it’s a part of history and, despite those who seem to keep looking for the body, it will never be found. But still, the Body of Christ is meant to be seen. The body of Jesus Christ will come again in the fullness of time, but until then, we’re meant to see him in those who follow him.
So through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, we are the hands that help, the ears that listen, the eyes that notice those in need, the feet that walk toward others and with others.
It’s a new day that leads to a life with Christ that’s never meant to end.
On behalf of all of us who have the privilege of serving you here at St. Hubert, Happy Easter! It’s good to be together—especially today!