Letter to Parishioners. Easter 2022.
Dear parish family of Lewis County.
" “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?
He is not here, but he has been raised. Luke 24:5-6
Do you know those types who always walk around with a tune in their head, singing it for everyone to hear? That's me. If I got a tune in my head, I always sing it and it goes through all day until night. This week as I was preparing for Holy Week and Easter this is the song that came into my mind:
Awake from your slumber, arise from your sleep
A new day is dawning for all those who weep
The people in darkness have seen a great light
The Lord of our longing has conquered the night.
What a beautiful song that reflects our Easter season and life.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read how an angel appeared to the women at the tomb early that first Easter morning. The angel explained to them that Jesus was not there because he had been raised from the dead, just as he said! Luke tells us that the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy.
That's what the resurrection does. It takes our fear, our worry, our hurt, our sadness...and it puts it all into perspective.
No matter how we live our journey through Holy Week, Easter Sunday and all of Eastertide, let’s strive in all we do to be Easter people, truly a community of the resurrection. As Easter people living into the resurrection we give thanks to God, “who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation . . . We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5: 19, 20).
The fact that Jesus is risen from the dead, that he was victorious over death and sin, is reason to celebrate. It's that fact that gives us joy despite our circumstances and through whatever we may face. What happened on that first Easter day still brings us joy and it still changes lives today.
Consider committing to attending Mass every Sunday, to inviting someone to be a prayer partner, to joining or starting a Bible Study group, to joining or continue your Small Faith Sharing Group, or embracing one of the Christians Disciplines.
I hope you will join us on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, that you will be filled with joy no matter what your circumstances, no matter what you face. Rejoice and sing as we celebrate how Jesus still changes lives today.
On behalf of Fr. Luigi, Deacons, all the Staff of the Parishes join me in wishing you all a HAPPY AND JOYOUS EASTER!
In Christ.
Fr. Milhton Scarpetta.
Pastor.
HAPPY EASTER 2022.