VII Sunday Easter-Ascension:[A]:Acts1:1-11;Eph1:17-23;Mt28:16-20

VII Sunday Easter-Ascension:[A]:Acts1:1-11;Eph1:17-23;Mt28:16-20

Introduction:  Today is the 7th and the last Sunday of Easter Season. The feast of “The Ascension of the Lord” that we celebrate today was actually last Thursday – exactly 40 days after Easter, but because of its importance and for pastoral reasons we are allowed to move it to this Sunday, as we have done today.

Exegesis: In Luke and Acts of the Apostles the Ascension takes place in Bethany, near Jerusalem, whereas in Mathew and Mark it takes place in Galilee. However, both agree that it takes place on a mountain.  Today, we have St. Luke's account of the Ascension as described in the First Reading of today from the Acts of Apostles. Jesus led his disciples as far as Bethany and we are told that on a mountain “As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.” Then, they joyfully returned to Jerusalem praising God. There are two details worth noting in this description:

Firstly, it took place in 'Bethany,'  the place from which Jesus entered  Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Now it is also from Bethany that Jesus enters the 'heavenly Jerusalem' - the 'dwelling place' of His Father.

Secondly, the 'cloud' mentioned is no ordinary cloud. In the Old Testament, the cloud was a sign not only of the Father's closeness to His people but also of His presence. So, we are told that it is the Father who is at work in the Ascension of Jesus.

Ascension is a glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ, ascension marks the end of Jesus' earthly work of redemption and ascension can also be seen as Jesus parting from his disciples.  This feast is the hope of our glorification and a guarantee to meet our Lord in heaven. It is a reminder of our salvation, a reminder that our true home is in heaven. So, today, we are challenged to look beyond this world to the destiny which we are to share with Christ in heaven. This world is only a place of temporary refuge; a world of passage and not a world of permanence.

Joke:  1) The ascension mission to preach the gospel: After attending a convention led by Billy Graham a woman wrote to him. “Dear Sir, I feel that God is calling me to preach the gospel. But the trouble is that I have twelve children. What shall I do?” The televangelist replied: “Dear Madam, I am delighted to hear that God has called you to preach the Gospel. I am even more delighted to hear that He has already provided you with a congregation in your own home.”

Practical: This feast of the Ascension is a reminder for all of us, not just of what awaits us when we die, but also what we need to do while still on earth alive. Jesus before his Ascension commissioned his disciples, and us too, to be his witnesses and carry out his mission to the ends of the earth till his return. We have to make time to become more and more like Christ in everything. Then we can proclaim the Good News to others not only through our words and deeds, but also though our lives, so that Jesus will also reign in their hearts and one day we all will be with him in heaven.

Introduction:  Seventh Sunday of Easter-Ascension

Message: Jesus commissions his disciples to baptize in his name, reminding them that he is always present through his Spirit. Having ascended to his Father amid cries of gladness, we are to be his witnesses for we have been gifted with his Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Let us, therefore, live in a manner worthy of the call we have received.

Saints and Events in this week: 2-Second-Monday-Saints Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs; 3-Third-Tuesday-Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs; 5-Fifth-Thursday-Saint Boniface, bishop, martyr; 6-Sixth-Friday-Saint Norbert, bishop; 8-Eighth-Sunday-Pentacost Sunday;

VI Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 8:5-17; 1 Pet 3:15-18; Jn. 14:15-21

VI Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 8:5-17; 1 Pet 3:15-18; Jn. 14:15-21

Introduction: We are at the end period of Easter Season and today is the 6^th Sunday. The Gospel Reading of today from St. John continues the Farewell Discourse of Jesus. Ideally situated in the Liturgical Year to anticipate the coming feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, the reading tells both of Jesus’ immanent departure and his promise of the Holy Spirit.

Exegesis: The theme of today’s Scripture Readings is the proclamation of “The Divine Presence of the Holy Spirit” and they refer to the missionary age of the Christians and the presence and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit to be given to them. In the Gospel Reading Jesus calls him the Advocate, the Spirit of truth who will live in the hearts of Christians to console and to guide them. While the presence of the Holy Spirit is a free gift of God’s love, it is only received by those who want and prepare themselves for it. The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles begins with the persecution of the early Church in Jerusalem and yet speaks of the spread of the Church to the surrounding places. Deacon Philip preaches successfully in Samaria and the Apostles are called to lay their hands on them so that the community receives the Holy Spirit. In the Second Reading from his first Letter to the scattered Christian communities, St. Peter urges them to be ready to engage others in order to explain Christian expectations. He implies that suffering is a likely consequence of preaching. It is interesting that St. Peter characterizes Christianity by its hope, its expectations of what is to happen because of Christ.

Explanation: And he promises them that even afterward he will remain with them but in a very different way from now. The context once again is the Last Supper. The reading picks up where last Sunday we left off. But whereas last Sunday’s passage centered on believing in Jesus, this week’s passage centers on loving him. Those who love Jesus keep his commandments. In other words, covenant fidelity is an outpouring of love. Jesus is about to leave the world and return to his Father and when he is no longer physically present, he promises to send them another Advocate, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth to be with them always. 'Advocate' is a translation of the Greek word 'Paraclete' and it carries a range of meanings – Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Intercessor, Strengthener. It literally means 'one called alongside to help' whenever necessary. In other words, the disciples need not be troubled or afraid because they will never be alone. The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will always be with them to defend them, to intercede for them, and to comfort them.

Joke:  Three buddies die in a car crash, and they go to heaven to an orientation.
They are all asked, "When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you? The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man."
The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow."
The last guy replies, "I would like to hear them say, "Look! He's moving!"

Practical: Do we earnestly and genuinely wish for the Spirit of truth to enter into our hearts and stay with us always? If we are at all uncertain about any of our answers to these questions, then let us pray - pray that we might truly be open to the scriptures, open to God, open to Jesus and what he asks of us in love. And pray that as Pentecost approaches we too might become filled with “The Divine presence of the Holy Spirit” and completely open to the love and freedom in Christ that is promised to us as a result.

Introduction:  Sixth Sunday of Easter

Message: The people of Samaria come to worship the Lord and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It is this same Spirit that leads us into the truth.  In the body, Jesus was put to death; in the Spirit, he was raised to life.  We are called to this same glory.

Saints and Events in this week: 26-TwentySixth-Monday-Saint Philip Neri, priest; 27-TwentySeventh-Tuesday-Saint Augustine of Canterbury; 31-ThirtyFirst-Saturday-The Visitation of the Blessed virgin Mary; June-First-The Ascension of Our Lord;

V Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:4-9; Jn. 14:1-12

V Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:4-9; Jn. 14:1-12

Introduction:  Jesus invites us to let go and trust in him. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through him. A first reading helps us to understand the priesthood we all share and that leads to the responsibilities of total surrender.

Exegesis: The word priesthood is traced to the descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob by Lia. The whole tribe of Levi by the command of God was set apart for the service of the sanctuary. Therefore in the apportionment of the land of Chanaan, the tribe of Levi received no tribal territory [Jos.13]. In lieu of land they received the tithes and also four cities with suburban pasture lands from each of the other tribes of Israel. As most of their duties required a man's full strength, the Levites usually entered active service at the age of 30. At the exodus from Egypt the male descendants of Levi from a month old and upward numbered 22,000. In the journey through the wilderness the number of the Levites from 30 years up to 50 years, the year of superannuation, was 8580. [Numb.4]

In Exodus 40:12-15, we read that God commanded Moses to set Aaron and his sons apart and to anoint them so that they may serve Him as priests, going from generation to generation. Their anointing would admit them to a perpetual priesthood. From this, we learn that those who belonged to the priesthood, a class that had been set apart in society, had been personally chosen by God to serve Him in a perpetual priesthood. When combining both words, "royal" and "priesthood," we learn that those who possess that title are persons of royal blood who have been personally chosen by God to serve Him in a perpetual priesthood that enjoys a different status in society.

Turning to the Gospel of John, we learn that Jesus commanded the Sacrament of Baptism as a condition to being admitted into the Kingdom of God. He said, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."[Jn. 3:5] Turning to the First Letter of John, we read that the seed of God abides in those who are born of God. [1Jn.3:9] From this additional knowledge we learn that those who have been baptized and admitted into the mystical Body of Christ that forms the spiritual Kingdom of God on earth, their royal blood is traced to the seed of God. They are set a part from the society for the welfare of the society.

Joke:  As a lead-in to today's Gospel, I would like to begin with a humorous story: It's about a man who falls off a cliff. On the way down he manages to grab a tree limb. With both hands grasping the limb, he looks down into a deep canyon. He cries out, "Help, please. Is anyone up there?"

After an unbearable silence, a voice answers, "Yes, I am here."

"Who are you?" the man shouts.

"It’s me, the Lord!"

Greatly relieved, the man says, "Oh, thank you! Have you come to rescue me?"

"Yes," says the Lord. "But you will have to trust me and do exactly what I say."

"Anything!" the man says.

The Voice says, "Let go. I will catch you.”

The man thinks for a second, looks down into the canyon, then asks, "Is there anyone else up there?"

Explanation: Well...the story indicates the dilemma we face in today's Gospel. Jesus says clearly, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, is the only Way. Jesus himself is God. There is no one else up there. He alone can rescue us. But there is a hitch: We have to let go, trust totally in Him.

Sometimes people hold back from Christianity because they fear that it is "exclusive." In one sense that is understandable - Jesus does make some absolute claims. Jesus himself, however, is perfectly inclusive. He includes in Himself the entire Jewish faith. He also includes the monotheism and surrender of Islam, as well as the self-abnegation of the Buddha. He even embraces what is good and noble in paganism.

As Christians we follow Jesus - the one way to salvation, who is himself the fullness of life and truth. This does not mean that we claim to be oracles of truth. Or that we know all the answers or are always right. No, our approach to the truth requires humility. Our royal priesthood is to serve without exclusivity.

Practical: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Total surrender should be reflected through our true faith, which should be seen by others as all inclusive. Jesus’ all inclusive nature leads us to follow him through the true way to Eternal life.

Introduction:  Fifth Sunday of Easter

Message: We are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood” called to place our faith and trust in the Spirit of Jesus who guides the community of faith.

Saints and Events in this week: 20-Twentieth-Tuesday-Saint Bernadine of Siena, priest; 21-TwentyFirst-Wednesday-Saint Christopher Magallanes, priest, and Companions, martyrs; 22-Twenty Second-Thursday-Saint Rita of Cascia, religious;

IV Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 2:14,36-41,1Ptr 2:20-25, Jn 10:1-10

IV Sunday of Easter:[A]:Acts 2:14,36-41,1Ptr 2:20-25, Jn 10:1-10

Introduction:  The 4th Sunday of Easter has come to be known as Good Shepherd Sunday because during all three years of the liturgical cycle, the gospel is taken from this tenth chapter of St. John’s Gospel. This image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is central to our understanding of Jesus’ great love for each one of us. By his great sacrifice in his death on the cross and the glory of his resurrection from the dead, Jesus shows us that he really is the Good Shepherd.

Exegesis: One of the ways that we have to get closer to Christ is the consideration of the figure of the Good Shepherd.  Specifically speaking, the sentence I am the good shepherd comes in verse 14.  In today’s gospel verses one to ten deals with the idea that “Amen, Amen, I am the gate for the sheep”. Both the idea of good shepherd and the gate of the sheep goes hand in hand.

At night when all the sheep entered in the secluded area for the sheep, the shepherd will sleep at the only entrance of the seclusion.  Entering and going out of seclusion will catch the attention or make shepherd awake. So whoever enters through climbing over the fence not through the only gate are thieves and robbers.  Here the comparison is with the robbers.  But in verse 14 where Jesus compares with like “I am the good shepherd”, Jesus compares the owner of the sheep and the hired man. “A shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”V.11.  In both cases Jesus, the shepherd and Jesus, the gate, protects our life as owner of the sheep. Like a shepherd, Jesus is concerned with the welfare and the care of His sheep.

Anecdote:  "Two men were called on, in a large classroom, to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. One was a published orator trained in speech technique and drama. He repeated the psalm in a powerful way. When he finished, the audience cheered and even asked for an encore that they might hear his wonderful voice again. "Then the other man, who was much older, repeated the same words--'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...' But when he finished, no sound came from the large class. Instead, people sat in a deep mood of devotion and prayer.

"Then the first man, the orator, stood to his feet. 'I have a confession to make,' he said. 'The difference between what you have just heard from my old friend, and what you heard from me is this: I know the Psalm, my friend knows the Shepherd.'"

Joke:  A flock of sheep are grazing in a field, happily going "baa baa" to

each other and discussing life as usual when suddenly they hear a "moo

mooooooooooooooooooo!"

They look around and see only sheep. They carry on grazing as before.  "Moooooo  mooooooooooo  mmmoo!"

One sheep can hear it all too clearly next to him.

He shuffles away a little from his friend, a worried look on his face and then asks "George, why are you mooing.  You're a sheep.  Sheep go baa! baa!"

His friend replys gladly, "I know, I thought I would learn a foreign

language!"

Practical: In his speech he mentions some of the characteristics of a Good Shepherd: He has a good knowledge of his own: “I know my own and my own know me” He knows who to listen and how to talk to them: “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name” He walks ahead of them, he leads them: “He goes before them, and the sheep follow him” Finally, he is willing to give his life for them: “A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” So also sheep hear his voice as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. We should have a personal relationship with Jesus just as we could recognize his real voice through others. Easter is a season to renew our faith and especially to increase our dealings with Jesus Christ who is risen. I want you to ask yourself this question, "Do I really know the Shepherd?"

Introduction: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Message: God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah. Through his wounds, we have been healed and have returned to our shepherd.  Let us listen for his voice and follow him.

Saints and Events in this week: Today has been designated as “World Day of prayer and Vocations”; 12-Twelfth-Monday-Saints Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs; Saint Pancras, martyr; 13-Thirteenth-Tuesday-Our Lady of Fathima; 14-Fourteenth-Wednesday-Saint Matthias, Apostle; 15-Fifteenth-Thursday-Saint Isidore; 

III Sunday of Easter:[A]: Acts 2:14, 22-33,1 Pt 1:17-21,Lk 24:13-35

III Sunday of Easter:[A]: Acts 2:14, 22-33,1 Pt 1:17-21,Lk 24:13-35

Introduction: The Christ event is the central event of mankind. All meaningful history before it pointed to this event. All history after it takes its meaning from this event. Jesus Christ is the center of history. He is our center. We are part of His Life, and He is our life.

Event: Last weekend was amazing. The world’s attention was focused on the canonizations of Pope St. John XXIII and Pope St. John Paul II. Hundreds of thousands attended the celebration. Millions more watched it on television. Its true significance was not the canonizations themselves. Its significance is that they pointed to the central event in the history of mankind. They pointed to the Christ event, the coming of the Eternal Word of God as one of us, as man; His proclamation of the new spiritual Kingdom of God; His destruction of evil and death through the sacrificial love of the cross; His giving His Life to us at the Resurrection and at our personal acceptance of this Life, our Baptism; and the continuation of His power and presence through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Those disciples on the road to Emmaus in today’s Gospel reading did not understand the significance of Jesus Christ as they walked down that road. They were upset over what had happened in Jerusalem that weekend. They had been followers of Jesus of Nazareth, and had thought that he would be the one who would redeem Israel. To them, that meant freeing Israel from the Romans. But, Jesus was killed the Friday before. Then there was a strange report that He had risen from the dead. They had to take a step out of the everyday affairs of human history and a step into the infinite. Jesus walked with them on that road. They did not recognize him because they were looking at him with physical eyes.

Empowerment: He would establish a spiritual relationship with them. Then they would know who He was. He explained the Word of God, Scripture to them. The One that Israel longed for was the One the entire world longed for. Scripture said that death could not have a hold on Him. Furthermore, those who followed him would also share in His Eternal Life. They invited Him into their home and He broke bread and gave it to them. Then they realized that their hearts were burning as He explained scripture. And they recognized Him in the breaking of bread, the Eucharist. He had led them into the spiritual. 

Joke: Up at the head table in the cafeteria, one of the nuns had placed a big bowl of bright red, fresh, juicy apples.  Beside the bowl, she placed a note which read, "Take only one.  Remember, Jesus is watching." At the other end of the table was a bowl full of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, still warm from the oven.  Beside the bowl was a little note scrawled in a child's handwriting which read, "Take all you want.  Jesus is watching the apples!"

Practical: In the first reading for this Sunday, Peter stands with the other apostles and tells the Jewish people that he and the others were witnesses to the resurrection of the Lord and recipients of the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. We also are called to continue this witness, this apostolic witness in the world.  There are many who are searching for the Lord without even knowing why they feel emptiness in their lives. They need us to fill them with Christ. We can do this. Actually, God can do this through us. There are many times that we also feel empty. But then we are given the grace to return to our core, our center, return to Jesus Christ and embrace His Life and Love. We must be committed to Christ. 

Introduction: Third Sunday of Easter

Message: Through the blood of Jesus we have been delivered from the power of sin.  We recognize him in the breaking of the bread, the one whom God raised from the dead and who now sits at his right hand forever.

Saints and Events in this Week:  10-Tenth-Saturday-Saint Damien de Veuster, priest. 

II Sunday Easter:[A]:Divine Mercy: Acts2:42-47,I Peter1:3-9, Jn 20:19-3

II Sunday Easter:[A]:Divine Mercy: Acts2:42-47,I Peter1:3-9, Jn 20:19-3

Introduction:  The Sunday after Easter always presents the event that took place in the Upper Room one week after Jesus rose from the dead. Pope John Paul II also designated this Sunday as Divine Mercy Sunday. And today the world celebrated the Canonization of this pope whom so many refer to as John Paul the Great.

Exegesis:   There are times that we have doubts in our faith. The Gospel tells the story of someone who doubted Jesus, the story of doubting Thomas. I am sure that he doubted Peter and the others who had said that they had seen the Lord. These are the same guys who only a few months earlier were squabbling with each other over who would be the most powerful in the Kingdom of God. Jesus had told them that they would be tested, but with the exception of John, they had all deserted the Lord, including Thomas, who in his own daring had said earlier, let’s go and die with him. The fact the Thomas was nowhere to be found at the crucifixion must have left him with some pretty negative feelings about himself. And what was probably most devastating to Thomas is that for the first time, he questioned his belief in Jesus. So Thomas was vocal in his doubts. He doubted the other disciples. He doubted himself. And he doubted the Lord. This obviously changed when he saw the Lord.

Pictures will often show Thomas putting his hands in the marks of the nails on Jesus’ hands and touching the Lord’s side, but actually Jesus only invites Thomas to do this. Thomas’ response to Jesus was “My Lord and My God”.  Jesus’ next comment was meant for us. “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen yet believed”.

         

We have doubts in our faith. That is part of being a human being. Faith asks us to take a step, a leap actually, away from all that we can see, hear and sense, a step away from the limits of our rational capabilities and a step into mystery.  And God, in His Mercy, sees us for whom we are, human beings with doubts, but also people who have experienced His Love and want more of it. We might feel bad about ourselves for having doubts, but His Mercy, His Divine Mercy, is so great that He sees us not as people with doubts, but as people who are searching for Him. Thus Divine Mercy Sunday fits so perfectly with the gospel of doubting Thomas, ordinary people like you and I called to have extraordinary faith. 

Joke:   A priest was forced by a police officer to pull over for speeding.  As the officer was about to write the ticket, the priest said to him, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."  The police officer handed the priest the ticket, and said, "Go, and sin no more." ………

At another time a police officer stopped me and came to me, looked at me and said, “Father…., Slow down, slow down, You can’t afford a ticket.”   

Practical Applications:: 1) Ardent faith in Jesus, who will not exclude me from his visibility and mercy, is the key that leads St. Thomas to doubt. Doubt may not be in the resurrection of Jesus, but on saying that he is excluded.  Such an ardent faith is what we needed.

2) One way the Church celebrates God’s mercy throughout the year is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Finding time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is another good way to receive and give thanks for Divine Mercy.  It is mainly through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that we practice mercy in our daily lives and become eligible for God’s merciful judgment. 

3)  Living faith enables us to see the risen Lord in everyone and gives us the willingness to render to each one our loving service.  Let us ask God for the Faith that culminates in self-surrender to God and leads us to serve those we encounter with love. 

Introduction: Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday

Message: Thomas believed because he saw the risen Jesus. Although we have never seen him, we believe in him.  We give thanks to the Lord for this gift of faith, especially when we gather for the breaking of the bread and the prayers.

Saints and Events in this Week: 28-Twenty Eighth- Monday - St. Peter Chanel, priest, martyr; Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, priest; 29-Twenty Nine-Tuesday-Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin, doctor of the Church; 30-Thirtyieth-Wednesday-Saint Pius V, pope; May First-Thursday-Saint Joseph the Worker; 2-Second-Friday-Saint Athanasius, bishop, doctor of the Church; 3-Third-Saturday-Saints Philips and James, Apostles;

Easter Greetings Homily

Happy Easter

When the tomb of one of the Ancient Egyptian Kings was opened and the archaeologists went in they discovered a number of sealed pots containing votive offerings. One of these pots was full of grain, wheat grains. The pot of grain had in there undisturbed for 2,500 years. Among the many other things that were of great scientific interest in the tomb, this pot of grain was particularly interesting to agriculturalists. One of them wondered what would happen if, after 2,500 years the grain was planted. He duly planted and watered the grain. And behold after all this time it produced green shots and after the normal period sent forth years containing new grains of wheat.

You couldn't call this a miracle, but to those agriculturalists it seemed like a miracle. They were certainly full of wonder and awe. 2,500 years in the tomb and the wheat grains were still capable of generating new life.  New life always surprises us, it always delights us, it inevitably fills us with hope.

Jesus Christ was in the tomb three days. Three days of desolation and fear for his disciples. Three days of silence, three days being enough time for it to fully sink home that he was dead and that they hadn't imagined those horrific events.

Then reports came in from the women at the tomb, it was empty. Then word of sightings. It gradually began to sink home that he had risen from the dead. And then he appears to them face to face, and all their hopes are realised. A new era has begun for the world. Nothing would ever be the same again.

We are the spiritual sons and daughters of those disciples. We are their spiritual heirs. We are the bearers of the Good News that Christ is risen. But, of course, in order to be believable we need to have encountered the Risen Lord.

In a real way we need to have been where the disciples have been before us. We need to have experienced death and desolation in order to experience the power of the resurrection. We need to have been known those three days in order to fully realise just what Christ has achieved.  There are in all our lives times of desolation and vulnerability. In order to rise with him we need to have been in the tomb with him.

This is what the Church teaches us each year when it takes us by the hand through the events of the Pascal Mystery; the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethesemani, the trial, the judgement, the journey to Golgotha, the death on the cross, the laying in the tomb and the long wait for the resurrection. We do it this way because we are human beings and we only begin to understand something when we have experienced it.

Joke:   Easter is approaching. Father O'Maley checks estimates for the flower decoration of the altar. 

The catholic florist - $ 300. "Too expensive" moans the priest. 

The protestant florist - $ 250, "No, it would not be right to buy at another Christian believer, especially as the price difference is rather small."

But lo! Solly Goldberg - $ 75!!! Religion or economics?

After much consideration, Solly obtains the contract. 

On Easter Sunday morning, Goldberg's men deliver the flowers: wonderful roses, azaleas, camellias, tulips and carnations. O'Maley's last reservations are discarded.
When the parishioners arrive in the church, they see the magnificent flower arrangement and a ribbon with the inscription: "Jesus has risen! But the prices of Goldberg always stay the same."

Conclusion:  We experience today the joy of the resurrection, the birth of new hope for the world. We experience the certainty that death has been destroyed once and for all and that for us death is now the gateway to everlasting life. Because we have been led by faith to this discovery we live differently to those who have no hope. We live a new life in Christ. We have been baptised and inserted into this mystery and we live it out in our lives each day.

May God bless each and every one of you, may he fill your lives with Easter joy and bring you in due time to his everlasting banquet in heaven.

Once again Happy Easter to you all.