The Lord, indeed, has risen.

     Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit the tombs of the Pharaohs in Egypt - or has read historical accounts of those ancient times - is struck by the apparent concern about a hereafter. The hieroglyphics for “life everlasting” appear repeatedly on the muted murals of discovered burial places, all attesting to the fact that we want to live. Jesus, in rising on the third day, conquered death and gave us hope.
     Easter is the feast of life. ‘The Lord has indeed risen! Alleluia! 

Jesus,both human and divine, returns to His heavenly Father.

     Not everyone has the same outlook on life. There are those people for whom this life means everything and “heaven” nothing. For them, when the last breath is drawn,it is truly the end. Others see value only in eternity and disdain things of the earth as somehow evil - demeaning and without worth.
    Christ showed us a third perspective. He loved the world and,in assuming humanity, chose our nature to be bonded with the divine. Nowhere is that dual appreciation more evident that in His Ascension wherein he returned both as God’s Son and the Son of Man. How beautiful a way to remind us that He is both our Lord and our brother.

Paul Pentecost

     The Spirit, whom the Lord Jesus sends from the Father, reminds us of all that the Lord has taught us. The Spirit will animate us and help us to know and understand our religion...embracing it with not just our minds but also with our hearts and souls.
    “Father of light, send your Spirit into our lives with the power of a mighty wind, and by the flame of your wisdom open the horizons of our minds.” (Alternate opening prayer for the feast of Pentecost).

All honor to you, Mary! Today you were raised above the choirs of angels to lasting glory with Christ.

     Mary, when approached by Gabriel, was a very young girl accepting a wondrous mission. While no other honor could compare, she was destined to experience a difficult adulthood marked by stress and sadness. Imagine the anxiety of a mother whose child has the task of redemption and takes frightening risks. She would be a woman of sorrow following that Son,harassed and humiliated, on His way to Calvary.
      While we celebrate her role today, her contemporaries had little idea of Mary’s identity. She was simply Mary of Nazareth and suffering was a real part of her life; she was truly human. Marking that humanity, God welcomed her - assuming her, body and soul,into the reward of eternity.
     Talk to Mary often; being one of us, she understands us well.

Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven.

     While her life on this earth was quiet and, in many ways, nondescript, in eternity Mary is exulted as Queen of Angels. Among God’s heavenly citizens, she takes a special place as Mother of the Redeemer. “The queen stands at the Messiah’s right hand, arrayed in gold” (Responsorial Psalm).

   But do not be intimidated. Although queen, she is also our big sister, our intercessor.... our ambassador, our loyal constant friend.

   Go to her.