The Third Sunday of Easter – April 14, 2024
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April 12, 2024Dear Parishioners and Friends,
When you visit any Catholic Church there are two pieces of furniture that stand out: the altar and the pulpit, or ambo. These have roots going back to the Old Testament in the temple and synagogue yet have become prominent in Catholic worship going back to the earliest centuries. They represent how we worship God in Word and Sacrament. At the pulpit the Sacred Scriptures are read at every Mass and God speaks to His Church collectively and individually. On the altar what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection is made present again; we are invited to fully participate in the Sacrifice of the Cross perpetuated in time under the appearances of bread and wine, to adore His Real Presence, and to devoutly receive Him in Holy Communion. The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist make up what we know as the Holy Mass. At every Mass Jesus draws us into His work of salvation here and now. It is the best way to participate in what we call the Paschal Mystery.
In the Gospel account from Luke 24 we learn these truths in a charming way. That is the way the Lord is. He steps into our lives and leaves us transformed. Gently He invites us to come to a deeper realization of God and then waits for our response. He offers His love and then lets us accept Him, reject Him, or show indifference to Him. Just as the two disciples were distraught because of the Lord’s death on the Cross, Jesus begins to walk alongside them, explaining the Scriptures, and then revealing Himself in the Breaking of the Bread. Jesus offers the same opportunity to us at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist. He opens the Word of God to us and feeds our souls with His Body and Blood.
During the Paschal Season let us renew Christian family life. By word and example families are called to respect, honor, and obey the teachings of the Lord and His Church. By their good example Christian parents lead their children (as good shepherds) into a tender, yet profound, worship of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. They care not just for the bodily needs of their families, but first and foremost for their spiritual needs. They know well that their primary vocation is to do what God asks from them to bring about the salvation of themselves and their children. We give thanks to the Lord for the cheerful witness of conscientious Christian families at IHM. God bless you always! Mary love you!
Yours in our Risen Lord and His beloved Mother, Mary,
Fr. Mark G. Mazza, pastor
