From the Pastor's Desk (4/5/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
4/5/26
Easter Sunday

Alleluia! He is Risen!
Sometimes in the Gospel, there is a single detail that tells the whole story. There is such a detail in today’s Gospel (Jn 20:1-9) that goes to the very heart of Easter. They came to the tomb, and the stone was rolled away! The stone was rolled away! The Resurrection means that that huge stone that separated the human race from God, the stone that stood like a wall between humanity and God was rolled away and now Jesus Christ, the way to the Father is once more wide-open. It is as though a room was shrouded in darkness and Jesus rises to pull the curtain and flood the room with God’s light. Through the Resurrection of Jesus, God’s own life floods back into the world. Now, eternal life and eternal happiness are possible for all of us. Last night, the Easter Vigil began in darkness. The darkness represented all that is devoid of light: evil thoughts, sinister motivations, terrible deeds, whatever is hidden and secret, deceitful and dishonest, divisive and abusive, immoral and sinful. Then a light was struck and broke into the darkness. As the light spread, the church was illuminated by the light, and the darkness began to be dispelled. The light we have been given, the light of Faith, can dispel the darkness. The Resurrection of Jesus assures each of us that we have a different future. One writer called the Risen Christ an “immortal diamond” casting His light in a thousand different ways and facets and colors, according to our need. He can bring to each of us the grace we need for our future. Because of the Resurrection of Jesus, Easter is the Sunday, the season, when the stone in our life will roll away. This is the Sunday and the season of the second chance for all of us. (Fr. S. Joseph Krempa)
 
A Prayer for Easter Sunday
Heavenly Father, renew my faith this Easter. Strengthen my trust in Your plans and help me embrace the new life You offer through Christ’s resurrection. Guide my heart to stay faithful, overcome doubt, and remain steadfast in Your Word. May Your Spirit inspire me to grow spiritually, reflect Your love in all my actions, and spread hope to others. Let this Easter season transform my soul and deepen my devotion to You. Amen.
 
The Paschal Candle
In every Catholic church this day, the new Paschal candle towers over the Easter assembly, a majestic symbol of the joy and glory radiated by the Risen Lord. Its stature is both inspiring and pragmatic, for it will burn at every Easter season Mass and every funeral Mass during the year. While the origin of the Paschal candle is uncertain, it is most likely to have derived from the evening prayer which the early Christians prayer before every Sunday and especially that of Easter. The solemn rite of lighting the Paschal candle can be traced to the second half of the 4^th century. For example, the use of singing a hymn in praise of the candle and the Easter mystery is mentioned as an established custom in a letter of Saint Jerome, written in 384 AD, to Presidio, a deacon from Piacenza, Italy. Later, Saints Ambrose and Augustine are also known to have composed Easter proclamations such as the “Exultet,” with origins in the 5^th century. From the 12^th century, the custom began of inscribing the current year on the candle. During this rite, performed at the Easter Vigil, five grains of incense representing Christ’s wounds are inserted in the form of a cross. An alpha above the cross and an omega below indicate that Christ is the very beginning and end of all. The Paschal candle is blessed at the very beginning of the Easter Vigil and takes a prominent place in the sanctuary throughout the fifty-day season of Easter, known as Eastertide, and is lit at all Masses, baptisms and funerals. In this way, it testifies to Christian certainty in the Resurrection of the dead as well as to the fact that all are alive in the Risen Christ!
 
The Risen One Returns to Us!
On the third day He rose again…Today, together with the whole Church, we repeat these words with particular emotion. We repeat them with the same faith with which they were pronounced the first time. We utter them with the same certainty that was put into the sentence by the eyewitnesses of the event. On the third day He rose again…This is the truth, upon which, as upon a cornerstone, is based the whole construction of our faith; today we wish to share it among ourselves as fullness of the Gospel, we confessors of Christ, we Christians, we the Church. Behold the day of universal hope. The day on which all human sufferings, disappointments, humiliations, crosses, violate human dignity, disrespected human life, all are gathered up and associated with the Risen One, and loudly cry out, “To the Paschal Victim, let sacrifice of praise be raised today!” The Risen One does not depart from us. The Risen one returns to us! (Saint Pope John Paul II)
 
Easter Blessings!
Christ has risen! With great joy, we welcome our parishioners, visitors, and guests to Mary, Queen of Saints Parish, this Easter Sunday. With great joy, we welcome our newest members to our parish, with the catechumens and candidates who entered the Church last evening at the Easter Vigil Mass. Now that we have concluded our journey with Jesus on his way to the Cross during Lent and Holy Week, we now celebrate his Resurrection in the joyful Easter season. On behalf of our Clergy Team and Pastoral Staff, I want to wish you blessings of peace and joy to you on this Easter and in the glorious fifty-days to come! 
Sincerely in our Risen Lord,
Father John B. Gizler, III