Christ is risen, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia!

My dear friends in Christ:

Christ is risen, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia! Although this announcement is only nine words long, they are by far the most important nine words we can hear or share. This phrase captures the entirety of the Easter message and reminds us that the world and our lives are different because Jesus is no longer in the grave.

If Jesus is not risen and alive then He is not the Son of God and our faith in Him is worthless. If He remains in the grave, then He is just one more teacher among all the teachers who have ever lived. If He is not raised, then His message may inspire us, but it can’t really change us. Only His victory over the grave confirms His identity, His mission and His continued presence in our lives. Only the reality of His bodily resurrection offers us the promise of eternal life and our own resurrection.

It is vital that we remember this: Easter is about Jesus Christ rising from the grave. He was dead, but now He lives no more to die. Easter is not a remembrance of the return of spring. It is not about the Easter bunny, Easter baskets, chocolate eggs, or even about our Easter gatherings with family and friends. As wonderful as these things may be, they are not more important than the truth of the resurrection.

With this in mind, I invite us all to remember that every Sunday of the year is a little Easter, an invitation to enter into the saving mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. This is why as Catholics we speak of the obligation to attend Mass every Sunday; it is our weekly opportunity to proclaim that Jesus lives and that He is Lord of our lives and of the world. If we truly believe He is risen and believe His resurrection means we are invited to share eternal life, then one hour a week in church seems a small burden to bear in order to thank God for this gift.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the diocesan offices and Vermont Catholic Charities. I would be foolish to think that I could ever keep the diocese afloat all on my own. I am indebted to them for their selfless service and dedication.

May the joy of Easter, the joy of the resurrection fill our hearts and homes today, throughout the entire Easter season, and every day of our lives.

In the risen Christ,

Msgr. John J. McDermott

Diocesan Administrator