Dear Parishioners,

Last year to mark the millennium, a popular radio program in England, prepared a series of questions on the Christian faith which they sent to well known people in public life, including bishops, politicians and philosophers. "Do you believe in the literal fact of the Resurrection?" was prominent on the list. Considerable hesitancy was evident among those polled. Perhaps it has become unfashionable to be so innocently orthodox.

But if the tomb was not empty on Easter Day, that would be the end of the Christian faith as St. Peter and St. Paul preached it, though the figure of Christ would continue to exert compulsive attraction. There is no indication in the ancient documents, curiously, that the fact of the empty tomb was ever seriously challenged. Yet nowadays believers who tell each other that they have no difficulty about that fact tend to drop their voice as they do so and look anxiously over their shoulder.

The trouble with that question as asked lies in the word "literal". It suggests that the Resurrection belief of the Christian Church is identical with the question of whether the tomb was empty. But it is not. Had Sherlock Holmes with the faithful Watson been on the prowl on that first Easter Day, telescope and microscope at the ready, he might have been able to leave to posterity evidence of an empty tomb, but no evidence of a resurrection. For that, something more is needed - a moment of recognition of the Risen Lord which causes hearts to burn, as happened with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

They were broken men - even though they had heard about the empty tomb. Even when the Stranger who joined them interpreted the prophecies of the Scriptures to them as they walked, still they did not see. Only when they went in and he broke the bread, blessed it and gave it to them, were their eyes opened. And now they said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road?"

Today, where belief is much more a matter of choice rather than of culture, ethnic background or parental faith, we need to have our eyes opened to the Stranger who accompanies us. But the Risen Christ is mysteriously different from what he was before. Again and again we do not recognize him at first, until we make contact with him in such a way that their hearts burn within us. Which means that to share the gospel message today will get nowhere with microscopes or telescopes. Rather we need four basic activities or experiences: 1) to welcome and respect people and their situations as they are; 2) to witness concretely to compassion and service; 3) to share in a lively way our stories of faith; and, 4) to offer celebrations of hope.

This Holy Saturday evening we welcomed 19 adults into the Catholic Christian community by baptism and profession of faith. They are clear examples of people who have experienced the Risen Lord in our community and have carefully, after months and months of preparation, made a life changing decision. We welcome and support them all.

Beginning this Monday evening we welcome the homeless into our parish home as our facilities and parishioners provide a week of shelter, food, tutoring and activities for homeless families. This is part of the Rotating Homeless Shelter program in our community sponsored by FERST and our St. Vincent de Paul Society. Thank you to so many of you who by contributions and hours of volunteer assistance make this welcome possible.

Your Pastor,
Brian T. Joyce