Message from our Pastor - April 26, 2026

Dear Friends,

Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” There may be no word more expressive of Easter than this word: life. Easter is the triumph of life over death, hope over despair, and grace over sin. It is the radiant proclamation that Christ is risen and that, in Him, we are called not merely to exist, but to truly live.

The Gospel of Saint John has often been called the Gospel of life. Saint John himself makes this clear when he reveals the purpose of his writing: “that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.” For John, faith in Christ is never merely an intellectual assent to a doctrine. It is an entrance into a new life, a life born of communion with the Risen Lord. To believe in Christ is to receive His life, and to receive His life is to be transformed by it.

But what does it mean to be alive in Christ? It means allowing His life to take root within us and to shape the whole of our being. It means striving, however imperfectly, to become like Him in mind, heart, and action. This is not easy, because Jesus did not remain distant from the brokenness of the world. He entered into it fully. He did not save us from afar; He came near. He loved those whom others rejected: sinners, tax collectors, harlots, thieves, lepers, and the demon-possessed. He drew close to those whom society feared, avoided, or condemned. Even as He hung upon the Cross, wounded by cruelty and injustice, He did not curse His torturers, but forgave them.

Here we begin to see what true life in Christ looks like. It is not a life centered on self-protection, self-importance, or worldly success. It is a life poured out in love. The love of Jesus was not expressed chiefly in dramatic words or outward display. He loved by serving. He loved by kneeling to wash the feet of His friends. He loved by healing the wounded, welcoming the abandoned, feeding the hungry, and restoring dignity to the forgotten. In Him, love became concrete, humble, and merciful.

Easter, then, is not only the celebration of what happened to Jesus; it is also the revelation of what God desires to do in us. The Resurrection is not only an event to remember, but a mystery to be lived. To follow Christ can at times seem difficult. The path of humility, mercy, forgiveness, and self-giving love does not come naturally to our fallen human nature. Yet this is precisely the path of Christian discipleship. To be alive in Christ is not simply to admire Him, but to imitate Him. It is to let His compassion shape our hearts, His humility guides our actions, and His mercy become visible in the way we speak, forgive, serve, and love.

By virtue of Baptism, we become members of the one Body of Christ, the Church. The Church is not only about structures, programs, preaching, or long devotions. All of these may have their place, but none of them is the heart of the Church. At her deepest center, the Church exists to make Christ present in the world. She exists so that the love, mercy, truth, and healing of Jesus may continue to touch human lives through His people.

It is precisely in this sense that we are called to be, in a profound way, “other Christs,” living signs of His presence. This calling is fulfilled not only in great works, but often in the hidden faithfulness of everyday charity. It may mean standing beside someone in sorrow, offering a helping hand, drying tears, speaking words of hope, visiting the lonely, forgiving an injury, or quietly carrying out acts of love that no one else sees. Wherever goodness is shared, wounds are tended, comfort is given, and charity is lived, there the life of Christ becomes visible.

May we not only rejoice that Christ lives, but also allow His life to transform our own. May His Resurrection not remain only a truth that we celebrate, but become a grace that we live. Then, through us, others may come to know His love, His mercy, and the abundant life that He alone can give.

Parish Update

This weekend, we bid farewell to our Music Coordinator, Lynn, with hearts full of gratitude. We sincerely thank her for her dedication, commitment, and generous service to the liturgical music of our parish. Through her ministry, she has enriched our worship and helped lead our community in prayer through music with great care and devotion. We assure Lynn of our heartfelt prayers and ask her also to keep us in hers. May the Lord bless her abundantly for all the good she has done among us, and may He guide her with peace, grace, and joy in the days ahead. At the same time, we are deeply grateful that Eric Hollander has graciously agreed to serve as the Interim Music Coordinator of the parish. We thank him for his generosity and willingness to assist our community during this time of transition. We ask the Lord to bless him in this new responsibility and to guide him as he shares his gifts in service to our parish.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Peter