He is Risen!
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
“He is not here; He has risen!” Matthew 28:6
“Resurrection” by Luca Giordano
This Sunday we celebrate the most solemn, most important feast in our Catholic Church which is the Resurrection of the Lord. In fact, this feast is at the heart of all our sacramental, liturgical and, above all, our spiritual life. St. Paul tells us: “If Jesus is not raised from the dead, our preaching is in vain and we are the most pitiable of men” (1 Cor. 15:14). In other words, If Jesus was not raised from the dead, Christianity is a fraud and a joke. However, If he did rise from death, that means that Jesus is who says he IS, the Son of God; and he DID resurrect therefore he has to be the ultimate center of our lives. There is no third option. It is through this paschal mystery that we all are embraced back God. All our sins, divisions, vices, violence and human disorders are washed away through Jesus on the cross. The good news is that through this tragic event Jesus has restored our relationship with the Father which was lost since the beginning of the creation. His resurrection is our resurrection. Let the miracle of the resurrection of Our Lord resonate in our hearts so that we may be transformed by it and share the joy that comes from it. As Pope Francis said “Faith in the resurrection of Jesus and the hope He has brought to us is the most beautiful gift that a Christian can and must offer his brothers and sisters.” On behalf of Fr. Walter, myself and all of us here at Mary Immaculate we want to wish you and your families a blessed and happy Easter!
God bless you,
Fr. Abel Loera, Pastor
Readings for the Week
Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2a, 5, 7-11; Mt 28:8-15
Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; Jn 20:11-18
Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9; Lk 24:13-35
Thursday: Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2ab, 5-9; Lk 24:35-48
Friday: Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27a; Jn 21:1-14
Saturday: Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118:1, 14-15ab, 16-21; Mk 16:9-15
Sunday: Acts 4:32-35; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Jn 5:1-6; Jn 20:19-31
Saints & Special Observances
Sunday: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Monday: Monday within the Octave of Easter
Tuesday: Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
Wednesday: Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
Thursday: Thursday within the Octave of Easter
Friday: Friday within the Octave of Easter; First Friday; Julian Calendar Good Friday
Saturday: Saturday within the Octave of Easter; First Saturday