April 1st, 2018 - Easter Sunday Homily - New Life in Christ

To listen to the homily, click on this link:  April 1st, 2018 - Easter Sunday Homily - New Life in Christ



Happy Easter!  Jesus Christ is Risen today, Alleluia!  He is risen to new life, the life of the Resurrection and we who are baptized share in that New Life in Christ.

Readings:  Acts 10:34A, 37-43; Ps 118; Col 3:1-4; Mk 16:1-7

Easter Sunday Pictures

Bulletin Article Below (This is Not the Homily)

Easter Season

Happy Easter!  Many people may wonder why the date for Easter varies from year to year.  According to the Gospels, Jesus was crucified around the time of the Jewish feast of Passover, which starts on the 15^th of Nissan.  The Jewish calendar is based on the moon more so than the sun, and it does not directly correlate with our modern-day calendar.  Additionally, the days of the week are being preserved as well so that Sunday is always Easter.  As a result of these considerations, Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.  Since Easter is determined this way, it is not always the same day or even month from one year to the next.  So, for example in 2019, Easter will be celebrated on April 21, and in 2020 it will be on April 12.

Easter, like Christmas, is not just a day, but a whole season.  The first 8 days make up the Octave of Easter and each day in the Octave of Easter is a Solemnity!  The Second Sunday of Easter is also known as Sunday of Divine Mercy.  On this Sunday, we recall the mercy of God as the Gospel reveals Jesus giving the Apostles and their successors the ability to forgive sins.  It is also a day that we recall the Mercy of God as it was revealed to St. Faustina.  The season of Easter lasts 50 days going from the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to Pentecost (which means 50).  From the Resurrection to Ascension Thursday is 40 days.  Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, so during the nine days between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost the Apostles were steeped in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to come.  The nine days of prayer of the Apostles was the first Novena, and where the trend of novenas first began.

Easter is always in the spring, which is a season of new life.  So, it was wise for Jesus to rise to the new life of the Resurrection in the Spring.  He also rose on a Sunday, the first day of Creation, and with the Resurrection we have a new creation of humanity in Jesus Christ.  Jesus rose in the morning, the time of day associated with new life.  The theme of New Life in the Resurrection is strong and so other signs of new life accompany the celebration of Easter including:  eggs, rabbits, and flowers in bloom.  Enjoy this season of celebrating New Life in Christ!