Exiit qui seminat

Why did Jesus Christ sacrifice himself to the point of death? Faith answers – to expiate for our sins. Why did he rise in such splendor? To show us the meaning of our redemption. In his death, we recall that we were dead because of sin. In his resurrection instead we have a perfect example of our resurrection in grace. Since Jesus Christ rose immortal to a life of glory, we must say with St. Paul that we too must rise immortal in the life of grace, firmly resolved to never again subject our souls to spiritual death. ~ St. Pio of Pietrelcina

On behalf of the whole parish family of St. Padre Pio Parish and the Diocesan Shrine of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, I wish each and every one of you a Blessed Easter! As we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord, we are reminded that by the Church that Easter is not just our celebration of Christ's rising from the dead (as awesome and important as it is), but it is the potential and the promise of our resurrection as well. Solemnities like Easter are far from a history lesson or a mere commemoration of an act of one person. Easter is the culmination of all of salvation history - from the beginning of creation and the Fall of Adam and Eve to today. It is the fulfillment of the love story and the promise of the Lord and all of us - that He would be our God and that we would be His people. Because of the Lord's sacrifice, because of His great love for us, Jesus Christ conquers sin and death forever and offers to all the gift of eternal life. This gift is an invitation to enter into a relationship of love with God. However, love cannot be forced. We have to freely choose God and to participate in His life of grace. In addition, as Padre Pio reminds us, we have to be "firmly resolved to never again subject our souls to spiritual death." We subject ourselves to spiritual death and separate ourselves from a true relationship with the Lord any time we succumb to serious (or mortal) sin. By being faithful, by participating fully in the life of the Church, we share not only in God's mercy, but also in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is my hope this Easter that we may "rise immortal in the life of grace" and celebrate not just a moment in the earthly life of our Lord, but a reality made forever present to us by the power of the empty tomb.