The Lord is risen! Alleluia!
Happy Easter to all! Christians are filled with joy this day to see Jesus Christ victorious over the powers of sin and death. We know that life will be victorious, for Jesus has already won the victory! Let us take hope from this day, especially when life overwhelms us, especially when the events in our world overwhelm us, and let us always remember that life will be victorious.
Welcome to all who come to St. Margaret of Scotland today for our Easter celebrations! Welcome to all our faithful parishioners who are here week after week. If you are visiting from out of town or from another parish, welcome! If you are visiting relatives or home for the holiday, welcome! If you are searching for a parish home, welcome! If it has been a while since you’ve been in a Church, welcome! If you are part of another religion or faith tradition, welcome! Women, men, young adults, teens, children; married, committed, or single; Black, White, Asian, or Latino; from a blue, red, or purple state; pious, faithful, searching, or confused; straight or gay; able-bodied or disabled; native-born, immigrant, or refugee – Jesus loves us all, and so must all who follow him as Christians. Easter is the biggest and best day of the year for Christians, but I hope that everyone who comes to St. Margaret today will return week after week, Sunday after Sunday, and be a part of this amazing parish.
If it is Easter, it must also be Spring. As we watch our earth come back to life in the weeks to come, let us enjoy, savor, and revel in these glorious Spring and Easter days! Many of you are off these days for Spring Break, so go outside, enjoy a meal, plant your garden, walk in the park, go to the Gardens, the Jewel Box, or the Art Museum; eat some chocolate, drink some wine, sleep in, stay up late, sing a song, draw, color, paint, read, rejoice! During these 50 days of Easter, but especially today and this week, enjoy doing what makes you happy and brings you life. The days of Lenten penance are past; now it is time for us to come back to life with Christ. After all, Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and have it in abundance.” Now it is Easter! Now is the time!
The Easter season will be filled with wonderful celebrations. Our 2nd Graders will receive their First Holy Communion on April 28. Our 7th Graders will celebrate Confirmation, the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit, on May 2. Many couples will celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony this spring. Three new priests will be ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Louis on May 25. Many of us will celebrate anniversaries, weddings, graduations, and other milestones with our family and friends in the weeks to come. Our joy at these life events is only increased by the joy of Eastertime!
Thanks to all who made our celebrations of Holy Week, the Triduum, and this Easter Sunday so beautiful and prayerful: our parish staff; our servers and lectors and Communion ministers and Hospitality Minsters; Orin Johnson, Steve Neale, our fantastic choir and our musicians and cantors; Carmela Garza, Bonnie Lang, and all those who helped decorate and prepare our worship space; those who donated money for Easter flowers; and especially all who attended and celebrated the most holy days of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Sunday is the best day of the week, and Easter is the best day of the year, so rejoice with me! We are blessed and God is good! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!