In just a matter of time, it all is going to come crashing down. None of us will be left standing. Our bodies, good looks (we all are beautiful to God), youth, health are going to crash down to become one with the earth. No stopping it and no denying it. This is our hopeless sentence unless we pay attention to the Third Day. That is when the most hopeless sentence is changed into the most hopeful promise. It is on the Third Day that we learn that death does not have the final say (O death where is your sting, O death where is your victory?) but that Jesus does and what he says is, "I am not dead. I have Risen and if you believe and follow me I will raise you up to where I am."" Jesus will not be stopped or denied. No crashing down to a dead end with Jesus - it is all about being raised up in his presence. Friends, what better news is there than to go from the most hopeless sentence to the most hopeful promise?

As we celebrate this Easter season let us dedicate ourselves to investigate just what Jesus is offering us. It is not trivial, finite and short-lived like so much of what we "investigate" in life. It is infinite, overflowing, inexhaustible, and it will only get better, bigger, better, brighter and more beautiful to us as we investigate it more. That is what Risen life is all about!

Many forces, under the influence of Satan and his dark co-workers, want to keep us from investigating. Don't pray, go to church, serve the poor, immerse yourself in God's Word, become involved in the hearts and lives of other Christians because then we might discover the most hopeful promise and forsake our trivial pursuits.

A billboard asks the question, "What would our world be like without religion?"" On the bottom it reads, "See freedomfromreligion.com". I do not know what the exact intent of the sign is but it might be saying that the reason for all our wars, divisions and injustices has much to do with the religions and their practices. However, the whole point of religion is to help us grow in Jesus and the life, peace and justice he wants for all people. This is just another way the enemy wants to keep us away from discovering and living the most hopeful promise ever made.

Bind yourself to religious practice. Drill truth into your children - day after day. Pray together. Hold fast to the church and your fellow Christians. Seek God in the Bible. Isn't it amazing that if you had a winning lotto ticket, say of at least one million dollars, and even though you do not know how to open it because it is a different kind of envelop, you would do whatever it took to open properly and receive your reward? You would investigate, ask the questions and get the answers in order to claim your winnings. And we won't take the time of day to open our Bibles for which we need zero instruction to do while it offers us eternal life? Practice your faith with an open heart. Let LOVE define and fulfill you! Confess your sins. Investigate. It is in all this will find the Risen Jesus who teaches us about the most hopeful promise. It is there that we get caught up in heaven - NOW.

Bind yourself to God in religious practice. Live according to his demands for eternal life. If the Son has set you free then you are free indeed to live in his peace and justice.

We bind ourselves to God and he sets us free.

"The Spirit captures only to liberate."" This is the hope of Easter Sunday.

Beloved, is has been a blessing to journey with your through Lent 2009! May you thoroughly investigate Jesus and come into his promise of eternal life - even now. What happened on the Third Day is with you now and always.

You Are Loved

Blessed by the BEST,

+Fr. John