Easter Sunday

The Empty Tomb

The Gospel passage for this Easter Sunday is from John 20:1-9 that tells the story of the finding of the empty tomb of Jesus by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John, the beloved disciples of Jesus. Mary goes to the tomb and finds that Jesus is not there. She thinks Jesus’ body was taken away and put elsewhere. Then she runs and tells Peter and John about it who come running to the tomb with her. John gets there first but waits. Then Peter comes and looks inside. Seeing nothing, he walks out, wondering what happened. Like Mary, Peter only sees the empty tomb. Next, John enters the tomb and looks at the same empty tomb. But unlike Mary and Peter, John walks out with a profound personal revelation. He instinctively knows in his heart right then that Jesus rose from the dead. The gospel tells us that he believes!

The story of Mary, Peter, and John in this Gospel passage is key to our understanding of what faith is. St. Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:1: ”Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” This means that in the practice of faith, we must go beyond what our human eyes can see and what our human minds can comprehend. We must see beyond the empty tomb. This is hard to do in a culture in which we tend to boil things down to what we can see, prove, or control. But if hope is alive in our heart, our faith will help us move forward with courage, even when the future seems unclear, our current situation seems overwhelming, and things around us look scary. Like John, we must wait, in humility, for our turn. We don’t have to rush through things. Many times, we must step aside and put aside our pride. And we must be patient, not only with ourselves, but also with God. If we do this, then something profound will happen. Something mysteriously special and personal will be revealed to us in God’s time, according to the Word of God.

In our journey into the light of Christ, we may have disappointments, regrets, unfulfilled promises, even deaths. These are times when we feel like we’re in an empty tomb. There’s nothing to see but darkness. It’s cold and lifeless. There’s no risen Christ to see. However, as we follow the Easter story, we learn that Jesus will eventually appear to both Mary Magdalene and Peter. He will come to Mary Magdalene and He will fix up in her what stops her from recognizing the risen Christ. Jesus will come to Peter to fix up in him what is missing in his faith. In both cases and in the case of the rest of His disciples, including us, Jesus Himself will do what we cannot do for ourselves. He will do the fixing. This is the saving grace that comes from the Lord and Savior of the world. Consequently, this grace must then lead to an expression of joy on our part and to our serving God and neighbor.

The Psalm for today says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This is a great reminder for us not only during Easter, but during a lifetime. Every day, every moment, and in every experience, there is something and someone to be thankful for. God’s mercy and goodness is always here with us. He sends our way people who are good at heart, not only because they’re created in the image and likeness of God, but because they’re now our brothers and sisters in Christ. Especially this Easter, try to stay positive and thank God for all the things, people, and opportunities that He has freely and graciously given us so that we can live a Christ-centered life. This attitude of gratitude is our foundation for a future full of hope in this Year of Hope.

Easter is the great celebration of Christ’s victory and proclamation of life over sin and death. There’s no reason to despair. And there’s nothing to fear. God’s blessings from Heaven are overflowing. Whoever believes in Him with the eyes of faith can now have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). We are called to be an Alleluia people. We can rise above anything and everything that can overburden us. By His sacrifice on the Cross and His Resurrection, Jesus has lifted us up to a new life of grace. Claim it, live it, work on it patiently every day.

We went through 40 days of Lent and saw how our failings can let us and other people down. Let us now walk through Easter in the newness of life. Let us invite Jesus to come into our hearts, to count our many blessings, and to make our blessings count so that we can make a difference in the lives of people around us. May the joy of Easter help us experience the love and peace of God in a personal and deeper way. May the blessings of Easter be upon you and your loved ones! Christ is not in the tomb; He is risen indeed!

Take care and keep up the good work!

Deacon Rod

Recognize God in Your Oridinary Moments - By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman

Mini Reflection: Everybody’s trying to find God. They may not admit it. They may not even know it. But the search defines them, and it defines us.

The Search
I have a complicated relationship with evangelization.

Everybody’s trying to find God. They may not admit it. They may not even know it. They may talk around it, shy away from saying the name, both to others and to themselves: God. But I know for a fact that every person who was ever born into this world spent their lives searching for Him - somewhere, somehow, even if the only place they thought to look was in money or drugs.

It’s a comforting fact, really — a reminder of how alike we all are. Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, atheist, rich, poor, Black, white. When it comes right down to it, the history of humanity is a never-ending Easter morning scene that plays in perpetuity. The sorrow, the shock, the confusion. Again and again, as each newborn baby opens his eyes, the search begins anew. Where did he go? What has happened? Where can I find him?

Catechesis isn’t enough. Even those who learn about Jesus Christ, who accept his word, hang hesitantly outside the tomb, afraid to go in. Jesus’ best friend — the disciple whom he loved — ran faster than Peter, so desperate he was to find his Lord. But when he got to the tomb and saw it empty, he got spooked. He froze.

Sometimes, we expect God to be right where we left Him — in a certain parish, with a certain priest, in a certain relationship, at a certain job. We show up, and we’re heartbroken to see that our expectations have been turned upside down. He’s left us, we think dejectedly, but we’re wrong.

There is no one who has been abandoned by God. There are only those who stop looking for Him.

Don’t let the empty tombs define you. It’s the search that defines you.
©LPi

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of April

For the use of the new technologies
Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.

Honor Our Military

Please take time to give thanks for those who have served and are serving in our military and to pray for the safety of those who may currently be in harm’s way. In a special way, we thank and pray for these parishioners and relatives of parishioners.
Dear God,
We pray in gratitude for all of those who have defended peace, virtue, and justice with honor. We pray especially for those who have suffered in mind and body from the ravages of war. May Your peace reign in our hearts and in our world. Amen.

He Who Sacrificed His Life
†JOHN A. STONIS, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis
†CHRISTOPHER ZIMNY

Those Still Serving
JAY MARTIN, Nephew of Becky and Tom Brennan
JESSICA CAMERON, Niece of the Cameron Family
JOHN PODCZASKI, Grandson of Genevieve Podczaski
STEVEN TUMBARELLO, Son of Sylvia & Vince Tumbarello
CRAIG BEHRENDT, Grand-nephew of Sister Mary Helen
DANIEL BELZER, Nephew of Dave & Bev Belzer
MICHAEL KELLY, Nephew of Kevin and Kathy Kelly
MATTHEW NEUBAUER, Nephew of Dan & Judy Neubauer
EUGENE WALL, Nephew of Suzanne Lessner
NAILL SWIDER, Grand-nephew of Alice Swider
BRYAN DUFF, Son of Julie Duff
RYAN BLOCHBERGER, Nephew of Mae Grady
TIMOTHY DWORKIN, Grandson of Barbara Bouska
ALEXIS GONZALES, Great-niece of Eden & Lyle Gonzales-Nemzin
JACK MAHON, JR., Son of Jack, Sr. & Eileen Mahon
MICHAEL FOLEY
JOHN FOLEY
PETER MULLER
DANIEL FRAYNA
JOSEPH GULLO
SANG HOON LEE
ANTHONY PALMERO
MORRIS COREY MCMAHON, Son of Chris & Julie McMahon
RYAN FONTILLAS
MICHAEL T. HEHN, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis

To add or remove someone, please send the person’s name and relationship (optional) to bulletin@stcatherinelaboure.com

Please Pray for Ukraine

For our sisters and brothers involved in or affected by the war and devastation in Ukraine-- the deceased, the injured, the frightened, the displaced, the fighters, the protesters, the leaders. May God give them solace, healing, comfort, and hearts and minds directed toward peace.
Donations can be made here:

Knights of Columbus: https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html

Caritas: https://www.caritas.org/

Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philidelphia: https://ukrarcheparchy.us

"May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war" - Pope Francis

Neighbors of other Faiths
The Golden Rule

Excerpted from charterforcompassion.org/the-golden-rule-in-seven-major-religions
We may speak of great differences in religious beliefs and forms of worship around the world. Called by an endless number of names, all, however, recognize and worship a Supreme Being. And all religions, somewhere in their sacred literature, expound the fundamental philosophy of the Golden Rule.

Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
~ Buddha, Undanavarga 5:18

Christianity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that all men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
~ Matthew 7:12

Confucianism: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
~ Confucius, Analects 15:23

Hinduism: Good people proceed while considering what is best for others is best for themselves.
~ Hitopadesa

Islamism: No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
~ Mohammed, Traditions

Judaism: And thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
~ Leviticus 19:18

Zoroastrianism: Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.
~ Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29