Dear Friends of Carmel Mission,
I wish you a very Happy Easter!
This is indeed the day that the Lord has made.
I pray that your Lenten journey has brought you closer to the God who loves you and also to the people who love you, whether they are here with you on earth still or have gone home to heaven, and are with you in a different way.
The Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and our Easter Vigil afforded us an opportunity to walk with Christ Our Savior as He suffered and died for us. His death is not the end. In fact, it is the beginning of a whole new chapter in salvation history. The Cross of Christ is a reality that results from our sinfulness. But it is also the reality that pays the price of our sinfulness.
The Cross cannot be viewed without the horizon of Resurrection. It points us always forward to our final destination. If the Cross was the final chapter in the life of Christ, then we should all pack up and go home.
On this Easter Day we are confronted with the reality of Resurrection. Just as surely as Christ rose from the dead, so also, we who believe in Christ will also experience Resurrection.
We are Resurrection People. Our song is Alleluia.
Let those Easter bells ring!
Are we prepared then to move forward, always forward, like our first Pastor and Founder, St. Junípero? If we are truly Resurrection People, we will have the courage we need to move forward with greater faith in our loving God, with greater hope in our hearts, and greater love for others in our lives.
Alleluia! Jesus Christ is Risen today! Alleluia!
May you and your loved ones experience a truly joyful and Holy Easter,
Fr. Paul
Pastor at Carmel Mission