What does it mean to say that Easter brings us joy? In the midst of life’s challenges – critical illness in the family, loss of a job, disappointment in a relationship and the burdens of daily living – feeling joyful may be a challenge.
But the joy we are being invited into this season is beyond what we see in our everyday lives. It's true that Jesus says “Come to me and bring me your burdens” but at times we struggle to believe it. Maybe we don’t want to believe it. If I really allow Jesus to come into my heart the way he wants to, will he ask me to change my life in ways that are too hard? How do I share the chaos of my life with Jesus? If I keep him at arm’s length, my life might be difficult, but at least my problems are familiar. What would it cost me to let go and change my life?
We know our own faults and failings so well. Too well. We begin to believe that Jesus loves the way we love – with all of our human limits. How could Jesus love us and accept us the way we are right now? Maybe when we fix a few things about our lives, love our spouse a little better, stop being so critical of family members, stop drinking, stop nagging, stop gossiping, love a little more… when we are perfect, then Jesus will love us.
If we can overcome our fears, the real power of letting Jesus into our hearts is how free our hearts will become. Suddenly, we are not afraid, not burdened and simply ready to serve with Jesus.
Jesus loves us as we are – right now. At this moment, Jesus holds each one of us in his warm and loving gaze and loves us so freely at a depth that our human minds can’t take in. Whether we comprehend this or not, Jesus loves us endlessly and waits for us with his arms open, ready to hold and support us.
As we receive his embrace and feel the peace and joy of Easter wash over us, we can look over his shoulder, and see beyond to those in need who now wait for us. That’s when we realize that the real joy in our lives is putting aside our own faults, challenges and difficulties for a while and entering into the lives of others.
Pope Francis said at Easter, we leave ourselves behind and encounter others by “being close to those crushed by life’s troubles, sharing with the needy, standing at the side of the sick, elderly and the outcast.”
We are being missioned as Easter People. We find peace in Jesus’ love for us and now we share it with others. We find ourselves standing side by side with Jesus, looking together at those we are being sent to love.
That is where the real joy of Easter waits for us.
By following the link below, you can read an article about our belief in the resurrection that comes from the Magis Center in Orange, CA. Using the interviews of Fr. Bob Spitzer, SJ (President of the Magis Center and the Spitzer Center), the author addresses the question of the evidence of the resurrection, why the resurrection matters, and what the resurrection means. She provides links to interviews given by Fr. Spitzer on his program on EWTN.
[Disclaimer: Fr. Spitzer is a friend of Fr. Ron Bagley whom he visits frequently at the House of Prayer for Priests in Orange where Fr. Spitzer resides.]
Pope Francis has asked parishes to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, wh1ch helps Christians in the Holy Land, where they are now less than 2% of the population. Your support is essential to help the Church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools, and offer religious education. The pandemic hit Christians in the Holy Land particularly hard. Most of them depend on pilgrimages for work. In these times of crisis, the Pontifical Good Friday Collection is necessary to meet the basic needs of the People of God still living in this Land and to maintain a Christian presence where the Church was born.
In this Lenten time of reflection on how to reach out to the needy and make a difference, we have a suggestion for you. Showers of Blessings is in need of people willing to donate food once a month for our unhoused neighbors in Carlsbad. If you would like to help please call Carol Jerome at 760-845-2704.
Refugee Resettlement
The Refugee Resettlement Program is in need of an Airbnb or something similar for 1 to 2 weeks, while a Sudanese refugee family is processing into the area and securing housing. If a donation is possible or a reasonable reduction in price could be arranged that would be wonderful. Please call Chris at 760-533-7139 or Helen 760-518-3901 with any or all possibilities. Thank you!
O Sacred Head Surrounded
This hymn is an old favorite during Holy Week. J.S. Bach took an old hymn tune and provided beautiful harmonization. The original German lyrics are by Paul Gerhardt, translated by Robert Seymour Bridges. This performance is by The Gesualdo Six and was recorded at the Church of St Bartholomew the Great in London.
We are grateful for the generosity of all of our parishioners and visitors.
Online Giving Reminder
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Catholic Trivia
"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.
In the Gospel of Mark, three Marys visited Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday. What are their names?
In the Gospel of John, who entered Jesus’ tomb first on Easter Sunday?
Who is the “Apostle to the Apostles,” famed for proclaiming the Resurrection?
The Catholic and Orthodox churches use different calendars, so their Easters usually differ. When do they next share a common Easter date?
If you have other members of your family or your friends who would like to be on our email list, just let me know or write to Mary McLain at mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.com We will be pleased to add them.
Peter preaches about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23
Rejoice in this day of the Lord.
Second Reading
Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
Colossians: Having been raised by Christ, be concerned with what is above.
1 Corinthians: Let us celebrate this feast with new yeast.
Gospel Reading
John 20:1-9
Mary of Magdala finds that the stone has been removed from Jesus' tomb.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we begin the Easter Season, our 50-day meditation on the mystery of Christ's Resurrection. Our Gospel today tells us about the disciples' discovery of the empty tomb. It concludes by telling us that they did not yet understand that Jesus had risen from the dead. Thus, the details provided are not necessarily meant to offer proof of the Resurrection. The details invite us to reflect upon a most amazing gift, that is faith in Jesus and his Resurrection.
Each of the four Gospels tells us that Jesus' empty tomb was first discovered by women. This is notable because in first-century Jewish society women could not serve as legal witnesses. In the case of John's Gospel, the only woman attending the tomb is Mary of Magdala. Unlike the Synoptic accounts, John's Gospel does not describe an appearance of angels at the tomb. Instead, Mary is simply said to have observed that the stone that had sealed the tomb had been moved, and she runs to alert Simon Peter and the beloved disciple. Her statement to them is telling. She assumes that Jesus' body has been removed, perhaps stolen. She does not consider that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
Simon Peter and the beloved disciple race to the tomb, presumably to verify Mary's report. The beloved disciple arrives first but does not enter the tomb until after Simon Peter. This detail paints a vivid picture, as does the detail provided about the burial cloths. Some scholars believe that the presence of the burial cloths in the tomb offers evidence to the listener that Jesus' body had not been stolen (it is understood that grave robbers would have taken the burial cloths together with the body).
The Gospel passage concludes, however, that even having seen the empty tomb and the burial cloths, the disciples do not yet understand about the Resurrection. In the passage that follows, Mary of Magdala meets Jesus but mistakes him for the gardener. In the weeks ahead, the Gospel readings from our liturgy will show us how the disciples came to believe in Jesus' Resurrection through his appearances to them. Our Easter faith is based on their witness to both the empty tomb and their continuing relationship with Jesus—in his appearances and in his gift of the Holy Spirit.
An Easter Hallelujah
In 2006, Canadian singer Kelley Mooney was asked by her parish priest to sing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" in church during the Easter Mass. When she looked at the words, she felt that they were not really suitable so she wrote a new set. After having performed it a few times she decided to get permission from Cohen's publisher to record her version. This was granted in 2008.
Divine Mercy Sunday
The Lord Jesus constantly preached a message of the merciful love of God. He freely offered forgiveness to those who suffer, those who sinned, those who experienced loneliness or rejection. His message was that God’s mercy is available to all who turn to him.
In our time, this message of Divine Mercy is especially needed. With so many wars, so much disease, too much violence, and widespread division, we need to know the merciful love of God that is more powerful than hatred and sin.
In 1931, Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina in Poland and expressed his desire for a feast celebrating this mercy. The Feast of Mercy was to be on the Sunday after Easter, this year on April 16.
This promise of mercy has been affirmed by the Church, which has made Divine Mercy Sunday an occasion for receiving a plenary indulgence, “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven” (CCC, no. 1471). The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (Confession, Eucharist, prayer for the intentions of the pope, and complete detachment from sin, even venial sin).
Click below to find out how to obtain the plenary indulgence.
Our Family Mass for this month will be on Sunday, April 23 at 9:00 am. We will joyfully welcome a few babies through the waters of Baptism during this Mass. Bring your family to celebrate the new life we have all received through the risen Christ.
Spring Is Here!
Finally!
The volunteers at the garage wish you and your families a very Blessed Easter. The Ye Olde Garage Monthly Sunday Sale will be on the THIRD Sunday in April this month - April 16 from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
We are hoping you will come and visit us and see what we have to offer at the Garage Sale. The location is the North/East corner of the Church Parking Lot. Just follow the Garage Sale Signs. Look for the Green Ye Olde Garage Sign and the American Flag.
Un Saludo de parte del Diacono Miguel,
El primer día después del sábado, estando todavía oscuro, fue María Magdalena al sepulcro y vio removida la piedra que lo cerraba. Echó a correr, llegó a la casa donde estaban Simón Pedro y el otro discípulo, que quien Jesús amaba, y les dijo, “Se han llevado del sepulcro al Señor y no sabemos dónde la habrán puesto”. ¡Felices Pascuas! ¡El Señor ha resucitado! Este domingo leemos del Evangelio según San Juan. Y miramos el temor y la ansiedad de Maríaa no encontrar el cuerpo de Jesús en el sepulcro donde lo habían puesto. Todavía “nadie había entendido lo que decían las Escrituras, de que Jesús debía resucitar de entre los muertos”. La reacción de Maria es normal y corre a avisarle a Pedro y el otro discípulo de lo que ella sabía. Eso nos pasa a nosotros también. El temor y la ansiedad nos bloquen a lo que Dios quiere enseñarnos y darnos. Hoy celebramos la Pascua de la Resurrección del Señor. Este es el día, que Dios, por medio de su Unigénito, ¡vence la muerte y nos abre las puertas de la vida eterna! Este gran acto de amor ofrecido a cada uno de nosotros debería inspirargrandes cambios en nosotros. Reflexionemos, ¿Qué significa para que Jesús muere en la cruz y resucita tres días después para darme a mi la vida eterna? Estando consientes de esta herencia, vivamos con ese gozo en el corazón y en nuestra cara, porque somos de Dios y nos espera un gran premio.
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![Hallelujah (Easter Version - 5vv+refrain) [with lyrics for congregations]](https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/thumbnail?url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5bs4fL1DFdw/hqdefault.jpg)
