“Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.” Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

Hi everybody, Bishop Callahan here to proclaim that Jesus Christ has indeed risen from the dead! As we just listened to a passage from the Easter Sequence, we can feel Mary’s excitement and joy as she exclaims “Christ my hope is arisen.” She proclaimed this just three days after watching her only begotten son endure such cruelty and torture ending in his most gruesome death . Now that she has seen Him alive, what joy she felt and what joy we can also experience as we recount this most stupendous act of Love, given to us for all time.

Easter is a time for us to explore the truth about Jesus. The readings at Mass recount the events that surround one of the principal truths of our faith – Jesus died, He rose from the dead, and one day He will come again in glory.

Easter is also a time for us to prepare ourselves to receive Him more fully, especially to receive His boundless Mercy. The Psalmist writes, Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.”

Pope Saint John Paul the Great instituted the feast of Divine Mercy on April 30, 2000 – the second Sunday of Easter in that jubilee year. In this extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on April 3. Just imagine what it must be like now for Saint Faustina and Pope Saint John Paul the Great to see how this great gift is such a part of our Easter season and our year of mercy.

This Easter Season, take time to consider how God is calling us and challenging us in Jesus Christ. Seek Jesus in your life; listen to Jesus who is calling you out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. Put out into the deep; listen to the longing in your heart; feel the spirit of God that is calling you more deeply into something new, exciting, and totally united to Him!

My prayer for you this Easter Season is that you may experience the Mercy of Jesus Christ in a new and profound way. And having received His Mercy, be committed to share that gift with those around you!

Blessed Easter

And I’ll see you at Sunday Mass!