Easter Sunday should be a day of renewing our faith in the words of Christ: "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me shall live." Gerard Manly Hopkins, in talking about the victory of Christ over death, described Easter morning as the day in which the world is charged with the grandeur of God. He referred to Easter as being a joyful day because of the "comfort of the Resurrection."

Easter Sunday should remind everyone that this is a day of hope for all of us. Just as the pain and suffering of Christ became transformed into his Resurrection from the dead, so each one of us, despite our mental or physical sickness will one day have fulfilled in our lives the words of St. John: "The former things of this world will have passed, and there will come a time when there will be neither mourning nor grieving."

Easter Sunday should be a reminder to us that this day of joy, this day of fulfillment, is because of the personal love of God for all of us. Christ taught us about personal love when he said, "greater love than this no one has than he who lays down his life for a friend." Christ offered his life for us. This was a sign of his love for us. He asks you to share and unite your sufferings with him as a sign of your personal love for him. Easter becomes more meaningful when your personal sacrifice is united with the personal sacrifice of Christ.

Easter Sunday, then, is a reminder of our personal faith, hope and love of God. It is a day to proclaim the good news of Christ. It teaches that all of us have a few Calvaries to climb, but thanks to this day and the victory of Christ over death, we can repeat the language of the gospels - Be intent on the things above rather than the things of earth. Your life is hidden with Christ in God. This Easter should be a season of hope because of the victory of Christ on that First Easter Day. Happy Easter to all!