Easter 2019

Post date: Apr 23, 2019 2:23:10 AM

Easter 2019 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

Today’s feast is the most important feast in the whole year.

If Jesus had not risen, we would never have heard of him.

The apostles would never have preached about him

nor would they have given their lives for what they preached.

Through the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus’ kingdom began to grow, and it continues to grow despite 2000 years

when there was always someone who was trying to destroy it.

Tonight, we gather in his memory,

tonight, we hear again the story of his victory over death,

tonight, we receive the Sacraments that keep us united with him

and growing in his life and his love.

Tonight (today), we give praise for all that God has done for us in Jesus

and tonight (today) Linda and I wish all of you a blessed Easter.

I pray that the light of the Easter fire that lit

this PASCHAL/EASTER CANDLE might burn in your hearts

throughout the rest of the year. Amen. I believe! It is true!!

A Religious Sister working in a convent boarding school in England

tells this true story. One year, a few weeks before Easter,

the father of one of the pupils was burning some branches in the garden

when he accidentally set fire to himself and died as a result of his burns.

His family went into deep shock,

and a pall of grief settled over the house.

His wife was so distraught that she couldn’t go into the garden

where the accident happened. In fact, she found it difficult

even to look out the window that faced onto the garden.

The days went by and Easter came. On Easter afternoon, the Sister visited

the family again. She was expecting to find them still grief-stricken.

But she got a pleasant surprise. When she arrived, she sensed that

the gloom had lifted, and she got a feeling of peace, even joy.

‘Something has happened here’, she said to the mother. ‘I can sense it.’

To which the mother replied,

“This morning, my sister and a neighbor woman came to visit me.

They asked me to go out into the garden to get some fresh air.

I became almost hysterical at the thought of going into the garden.

But they insisted, so eventually I went out with them.

“As we approached the spot where the accident happened,

my whole body began to shake. But suddenly,

I don’t know how or from where, the words of the Gospel came to me:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here. He is risen.”

And at that moment it was as if a heavy load was lifted off my back,

and I felt a great sense of peace and joy.