Easter Sunday

~ What a glorious spectacle we witness each year as nature awakens from her winter slumbers! What transformation in field and forest as the pall of ice and snow is blown aside by spring’s warm winds and buds appear on tree and bush. If our gaze could but penetrate nature’s workshops and see the tremendous activity in every sector, how tiny roots are bursting with life-giving sap, ready at a moment’s notice to break forth and form the thick, soft carpet of leaves and flowers upon which spring will make her triumphal entry into the land. The meadows will be green, the trees will be full of blossoms, the birds will be singing, a sense of joy and happiness and well-being will fill the land. For nature will have come to life again.

It should be one of our objectives to regain this sense of close association with nature.  The natural rhythm of the seasons should be a source of constant delight. Every tiny flower, every little animal, the rays of the sun, the chirp of birds, everything that spring brings back to us should inspire sentiments of joy and gratitude over our good fortune.  

However, we must not remain on the plane of nature; for us nature is a holy symbol.  It is a picture-book given by God to his children in which they may see his beauty and love; a picture-book which tells of another world which now at Easter is likewise celebrating resurrection, the world of supernatural life within us.

Spring with its transformation of hill and meadow is, accordingly, a great symbol of an event in sacred history and an event now taking place within the church.  Springtime is nature executing her Easter liturgy. Neither poetry nor art can even approximate her grand display. In every corner of her vast cathedral a thousand voices are shouting Alleluia, the voices of the creatures that have come to life. Yes, nature holy, sinless, eternal, is holding her Easter rites. Oh, that we had eyes to see this mystery!

— Father Pius Parsch, CRSA

Happy Easter to all the parishioners and friends of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish! We rejoice in the Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, for his rising has brought us joy and the hope of eternal life. Now is the time to celebrate life, so I hope that all of you enjoy, savor, and revel in these glorious Spring and Easter days! Go outside, gather with your friends and family, enjoy a meal, plant your garden, walk in the park, go to a museum, plan a vacation, 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!

Thanks to all who made our celebrations of Holy Week, the Triduum, and this Easter Sunday so beautiful and prayerful: Fr. Patrick, Deacon Dominick, and our parish staff; our lectors and ministers; our servers and ushers and Hospitality Minsters; Orin Johnson, Steve Neale, and our entire Music Ministry; Ruth Pera and our “Becoming Catholic” team; all those who helped decorate and prepare our worship space; those who donated money for Easter flowers; our Young Families who made Easter chalk drawings, and especially all who celebrated the most holy days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Easter is the best time of the year and Sunday is the best day of the week, so rejoice with me! We are blessed and God is good! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!