Indeed He is Risen

It is awfully nice to hear the Alleluia again.

I had the privilege of returning to the parish where I spent my pastoral year to celebrate Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Mass this morning.  All three were beautiful liturgies, and the priest preached well.  He commented that when the disciples arrived at the empty tomb, they were dumbstruck.  What did it all mean?  It was the sort of shock that might cause one to fall down and just sit there wondering what had happened.  He then wondered how he might respond to encountering the mystery of the empty tomb as one of the disciples, and helped the assembly to realize that we experience the Resurrection every time we celebrate the Mass, every time that we witness a baptism, every time someone approaches the sacrament of reconciliation.

Last night the power of the Resurrection was manifested in a powerful way as seven people died with Christ in the waters of baptism and close to twenty more came into full communion with the Church.  This morning, a six-year-old was baptized after his father returned to the faith after a time away.  Three infants were baptized after Mass.  The Church was packed to overflowing.   Christ is risen indeed, and we share in the fruits.