Today - Monday after Easter - fortified by yesterday's celebrations we begin Eastertide. For the next seven weeks - daily - reminded - of His accomplishment - opening the gates of heaven for all. All are invited - not all will respond - Free Will - an awesome gift - too often used to make wrong choices.
God knew full well what He was doing when He gave us Free Will - knowing full well - some would make wrong choices. We just celebrated the Triduum - Easter - for the majority - a great experience - for some - Easter eggs - jelly beans - bunnies. Nothing wrong with those in addition to a spiritual experience - a few - Easter - very secular - non religious event. This year we celebrated Good Friday - Easter Vigil with a community that is 98% Hispanic. To hear their responses spoken at Mass - the energy - enthusiasm - the excitement - far exceeding any prior times in our experience. The energy shared by the priests - especially the Pastor - as he delivered his homily in both Spanish - English - stirred a full congregation - to Easter joy. As he shared Jesus' victory over Death - as he baptized - confirmed - some thirty people - adults and youth - met with standing ovations - applause - an Easter celebration to be remembered. Praying that this Easter joy - stays with all who attended - with all - who around the world - experienced similar services - the joy - that Jesus is Risen - that all carry that joy into the entire 50 days of Easter season and beyond.
Happy Beginning of Eastertide
Deacon Dale
