Happy Easter everyone! Alleluia! It sure feels good to say that. For non Christians, Easter means nothing, but for us, Easter means everything historically and religiously. We are Easter people and Alleluia is our song. This time we do not surrender to Roman soldiers, Jewish authorities, or friends who would betray us with a kiss. Rather, we surrender to something quite different, something beautiful, something holy, something life-changing. Today we surrender to the power unleashed through the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord. We surrender to the power of the Paschal Mystery, a power beyond our comprehension - a power strong enough to transform every person, every relationship, and every corner of the world.
That's what we celebrate this day - a world made new. The Lord died so that everything broken could be mended, everything wounded be healed, and every barrier between us and God torn down. Nothing need ever be the same again, for God has infused every corner of this world with his very life. Wheter or not we are able to see the world through a different lens, or experience, or experience the world as a place of beauty, hope, and possibility, is largely up to us. God is offering us the power to do so. Do we have the faith and courage to accept it?
My friends, no one knows what tomorrow will bring. What we know for sure is that right now, today, this instant we have the opportunity to receive the most precious of gifts - a whole new way of living and being. The Lord has been victorious and wants us to be able to share in that victory. Why should we wait even one more second before allowing the Lord to transform us into the people he wants us to be? That's what today is about.
So let's rejoice. Let's be thankful. Let's be more alive than ever before.
For he is risen as he truly said! Alleluia!