Holy Week is over. We prayed together on Palm Sunday, at weekday Masses and Adoration, on Holy Thursday for the Mass of the Last Supper, Good Friday, an evening Tenebrae service, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. Our two parishes came together as a community of believers celebrating the biggest week of our church liturgical year with over 16 liturgies, including the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral. What an exciting week it was. But is the excitement still there?
Immediately following Jesus’ resurrection, the word spread like wildfire that he rose from the dead. We hear in Scripture that Jesus appeared to thousands of people in the days following his resurrection. So, people were excited because they knew that he simply wasn’t just alive- but that he died and has risen from the dead. They greeted each other with joy saying He has risen! With the reply of He has risen indeed! This is called the Paschal Greeting and is still used in many places around the world today.
The Paschal Greeting reminds us of the joyous news we celebrate at Easter - that Jesus’ death was not in vain, that He has the power to overcome death. Because death can be a scary thing. But, God didn’t make us to die - he made us to live. To live a life full of happiness and hope with an inner peace that only comes from being close to God.
Holy Week may be over, but our Easter Season is 50 days long – ending on Pentecost Sunday. So, let’s not pack away the excitement of last week in a closet with the Easter baskets until next year. May we have the courage to be excited about our faith and proclaim it to others. To go out and be like the early Christians,
telling everyone we meet - HE IS RISEN. HE HAS RISEN INDEED!
Deacon John