Easter message

Hearing God’s good news

Posted

Christ is risen. He is truly risen! That was the proclamation 2,000 years ago, and it is still the proclamation of the living church today. Some people mistakenly think that the resurrection was something tacked on to the story of Jesus’ life in order to give it more credibility. Nothing could be further from logic or the truth.

In fact, the only reason we know the story of Jesus’ life is precisely because of the resurrection. The real, face to face experience of Jesus Christ, truly risen from the dead is the only thing that could have turned his frightened followers into courageous heroes, almost all of whom died so that the Gospel could be told.

What is the Gospel? It is God’s good news. What is the good news? The good news is that we are all God’s children, created with an infinite dignity and loved by Him. The good news is that He has a plan for each one of us and a great mission for us to fulfill in this life. The good news is that we don’t have to be slaves to material things or bad habits. The good news is that difficulties and sufferings do not make our lives meaningless. The good news is that not even death can rob us of hope because Jesus Christ has won the victory over sin and death forever!

God’s good news continues to be experienced, especially when we gather for Sunday Mass. There, God’s family comes together in our spiritual home, the church. We hear His Word proclaimed in the Sacred Scriptures and we have the opportunity to receive Jesus’ true body and blood in Holy Communion. He is there.

The same Jesus who died on the cross for us and rose to give us the hope of eternal life in Heaven is present in the Eucharist. You and I are invited to be a part of God’s family on earth, and hopefully to join Him forever. Jesus, present at the mass, strengthens and sustains us on our journey through life. Let us go to meet him there, every Sunday. God’s blessings to you and yours during this Easter Season.

Rev. Fasano is the adjutant judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Rockville Centre and resident priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Inwood.