Hope
Many years ago, Sandra and I had the privilege of spending Holy Week in Jerusalem. The solemnity of Good Friday, as pilgrims from around the world walked the Via Dolorosa, was deeply moving. The silence was transformed at the Easter Vigil and Mass of the Resurrection, when it gave way to the ringing of bells and the joy of celebrating our risen Lord. On the Sunday morning, we got to celebrate a private Mass in the Holy Sepulchre and then in the Tomb on Easter Monday. All of this was a great reminder of what Easter is – sorrow is never the end of the story. These moments continue to shape how I understand the Easter message – the sorrow and silence of loss to the joy of new life.
This year, there will be silence. The bells will not ring, and Easter Mass will be celebrated by far fewer people. Yet the meaning of Easter will never be lost — neither for the Christian community of Jerusalem nor for the many millions around the world. Although important, Easter does not depend on crowds or ceremony alone. Easter endures and will continue to endure because it speaks to the promise of hope. Even in quietness, even amid uncertainty, Easter reminds us that hope is never extinguished, and that new life is always possible.
As we gather this Easter — the high point of our liturgical year, let us take a moment to reflect on what hope looks like – it is 14 young people making their First Reconciliation and experience the mercy of our Risen Lord, it is the Catechumens, who at the Easter Vigil, will be received into our Parish family through the Sacraments of Initiation. It is witnessed in the joy of a group of young boys gathered in our Cathedral foyer, raising their voices in praise after generously giving their Saturday morning to care of God’s house and it is celebrated in the joy of seeing Deacon Emilio taking the next step on his journey towards the Priesthood.
Easter offers us a deeper and greater hope — the hope of eternal life. So, while it may be easy at times to feel overwhelmed or fall into despair, we are reminded once again that after sorrow, comes joy in the Risen Lord.
He is risen! May you feel the love and hope of this Easter season
Clint Ramoo – Parish Finance Committee Chair
