As we celebrate this Easter Day and as we are sprinkled with blessed Easter Water, it is my prayer that each of you will have an abundance of grace to understand more fully the mystery of the Passion,
Death, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! The more fully we are incorporated into this great mystery, the more fully we are able to grasp the truths of the Faith that follow from it.

We know that Jesus suffered and died to free us from our sins – by His stripes we are healed. We also know His intention for the human race – “it is the will of my father,” He says, “that I should lose nothing of what He has given me; I am going to prepare a place for you so that where I am, you also may be.” It is His every desire that, when our earthly pilgrimage has come to an end, He will take us to Himself. I want to be a part of this great plan, don’t you? Is this not why we are drawn to love Him so much? Is this not why we are drawn to obey Him in this life? Is this not why we are drawn to forsake all things so as to follow Him as faithful members of His Church? This is the virtue of faith at work in us!

We can look forward to being reunited with those who have gone before us in faith, to being with family and friends who have passed from this life. Our prayers assist them even now as they prepare to enter the
eternal kingdom – and we shall see them again. This is the virtue of hope at work in us giving us this great and glorious expectation that will surely be fulfilled for the faithful on the last day.

On this Easter Day let us rejoice that the victory over sin and death has been accomplished in the Lord Jesus. Let us continue to follow Him unreservedly in this life so as to be with Him forever in the life to come.
 
May the Lord bless and protect you in the week ahead. 

Msgr. Charles J. Parry
Pastor
St. Patrick Church
Rockville, MD

___________________________________________________________________________________