Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3)."
It is with great joy that I greet you this Easter as we celebrate the wondrous event of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ (CCC 638).” It is in this phenomenal mystery of the Lord’s resurrection that each of us has been given hope for an eternal future. Through the grace of our Baptism, which we recall at every liturgy on Easter Sunday, we have been given a share in the very divine life of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternity. This eternal life, which has been won for us through the suffering and death of God’s Only Begotten Son on the Cross, satisfies the debt of our sins. With this new life comes the grace to know the only true God and His Son Jesus who opens us to experience the great love the Father has for all humanity.
This Easter the Church throughout the world also experiences a newness of life in the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Francis, who has been chosen through the grace of the Holy Spirit to shepherd the Church at this moment in history as the successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ on earth. He has been chosen to guide the Church during the Year of Faith that was initiated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI last October and will continue until the Solemnity of Christ the King this coming November. During this Year of Faith we are called to reflect more deeply on the gift of our faith, to grow in our knowledge and understanding of what the Church teaches, and to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ who desires to share with us the newness of life.
In his initial words and actions, Pope Francis has encouraged us to embrace this deeper commitment and resolve to living out the Christian life in the world, particularly encouraging us to put our faith into action by lovingly reaching out to the poor and the marginalized in our society, imitating Jesus’ example when He walked among humanity on earth. We are called to be instruments of God’s mercy and to be true witnesses to the Risen Lord whose life we share as members of His Body, the Church.
On this Easter day, I ask all members of Christ’s Church in Harrisburg to heed the call of Pope Francis to grow more deeply committed to living our new life in Christ on a daily basis. You and I are to allow the Risen Lord’s presence to be felt more fully in the world by the love we show to our brothers and sisters.
May Jesus, who has been raised from the dead and lives among us, fill you with His peace, joy, and love this Easter Sunday and throughout the Easter season.
Join us on Facebook