Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Greetings to all our parishioners and guests on the Third Sunday of Easter!  Today we meet the Risen Jesus who appearing to the Apostles showed them his wounds and sat down with them at table to eat a meal (Luke 24: 35-48).  All of the Epiphanies – the appearances of the living Jesus – well and fully confirm the certainty of the Resurrection.             Jesus’ life was the fulfillment of the Scriptures, as He often emphasized.  A Christian who has the desire to follow Jesus cannot disregard this fact.  Man uncovers within himself various needs, among them the need for fulfillment, for meaning, a purpose for existence inseparable from the consciousness of human worth.  Within our own lives, the Scriptures must be fulfilled, so of prime importance to us is the enlightenment the disciples experienced in today’s readings.  To fulfill the Scriptures is to fulfill ourselves.  While Joseph and Mary were still engaged, the Angel of God informed them that the birth of this Child was anticipated in the Scriptures.  I often wonder about my own birth; knowing that my existence was preordained by God has had a positive effect on me.  Jesus’ parents, living in exile in Egypt, remembered the words of the prophet Hosea who predicted that the Son of God would be called out of Egypt.  When Joseph arrived at Nazareth, he kept hearing in his mind the whisperings of the angel regarding the Child who would be called the Nazarene—a man consecrated to God.  Jesus, when he reached manhood, moved out of Nazareth and lived on the border of Zebulon and Naphtali to fulfill the words of Isaiah who foretold the seeing of a great light by those who dwelled in darkness.  When thousands of people from whom He cast out evil spirits and healed by His Word, came to meet Jesus, the prophecy of Isaiah that the Messiah would be burdened by human ills was fulfilled.  Those who have a compassionate heart are familiar with this experience.  We cannot help others if we do not take their burden, to some extent, upon ourselves.

Is the Word of Scripture being fulfilled in you as it was in Jesus, of whom Isaiah said that he would not crush the broken reed , nor would he quench the smoldering wick?  Have you had the experience that allows you to feel fulfilled for not hurting anyone nor extinguishing the flame of the presence of the Holy Spirit within them?  Yes, even Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was foretold by the prophet Zechariah.   When the people were wild with joy at seeing the Messiah enter the Gates of Jerusalem,  Jesus recognized this as a sign of his impending death.  Do you know Scripture well enough not to miss the sign of your own cross which, in time,  will be the beginning of your new resurrected life?

My sincere thanks to Misses Judith and Nancy Schubering for their donation of the new grill in  the kitchen of Father Borowczyk Hall.  May God reward you for your kindness and sacrifice.  I am certain that the pancakes prepared on the new grill will be most tasty.

God bless!