Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: April 04, 2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The culmination of the Paschal Triduum is the Resurrection of the Lord! Our celebration of Christ Jesus’ victory over death and sin recalls the most positive thing that has ever happened in our history, and indeed for all time to come. Finally we can even stare the prospect of dying – or any other disappointment, challenge or evil – in the face, and confidently move forward anyway. At last we can be sure that this world and its limitations in time give way to a certain, limitless existence.
This should make us super-confident, happy to be followers of Jesus. You know that Bishop Duca has a favorite Easter quote, which he reminds us of every year. He likes to prompt: “The Lord is Risen!” and we eagerly respond: “He is Risen Indeed!” I admit I also have a favorite, one which Pope St. John Paul II coined way back in 1986: “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!” (Come to think of it, since it’s a two-phrase statement, it could well become a joyful prompt-and-response also!)
So how will you be more and more an “Easter person”? Remember, self-improvement is not just something to work on during Lent. In fact, we should allow the power of the resurrection to inspire and enable us to do even more good. Now more than ever it’s time to redouble efforts at prayer and religious activism, especially in the pro-life sphere, in working to protect the wonderful world God gave us, and in making our social and political discourse more civil and productive. These are, after all, just practical ways to accomplish the Catholic “works of mercy” on which Christ has promised to judge us: to give food, clothing and shelter to the poor, to visit and comfort the sick and imprisoned, to welcome the foreigner, to instruct the ignorant, doubtful and wayward; to be patient and forgiving, and to be people of constant prayer.
As our country and local community drag ourselves out of the fears and dangers of the Covid-19 pandemic, definitely we need to rediscover and relish all that was good that we temporarily lost over the past year. Yet we also definitely do not want to go back to those things which make us less caring and thoughtful, and more indulgent and selfish, and so forth. Christ the Lord was able to overcome His sufferings; with His help, so will we!
Again, happy Easter!
In the Risen Lord,
Father Paul Counce
