April 5, 2026
Today the Church proclaims the most joyful news the world has ever heard: Christ is risen! Alleluia!
After the long journey of Lent and the solemn days of Holy Week, we arrive at the empty tomb. The stone has been rolled away, and the message given to the first disciples still echoes through the centuries: “He is not here; He has been raised.” (Luke 24:6)
Easter is not simply a remembrance of something that happened long ago. It is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope. Saint Paul tells us plainly, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14) But Christ has been raised, and because of that, everything changes.
Early Christians loved to say, “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.” Those words remind us that the Resurrection is not only something we celebrate once a year. It shapes the way we live every day.
Life will always bring its share of crosses. We experience illness, loss, disappointment, and uncertainty. Yet Easter teaches us that the Cross is never the final word. God’s final word is always life, mercy, and hope.
In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb while it is still dark. She expects to find death. Instead, she encounters the risen Lord. In that moment everything changes, and the darkness gives way to light.
That is the promise of Easter for each of us. Christ enters the dark places of our lives and speaks the same words He spoke to His disciples: “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
Here at St. Joseph the Worker Shrine, we see signs of that Easter hope every day. People come carrying burdens, worries, and prayers in their hearts. They light candles, kneel in quiet prayer, and place their trust in the Lord. Again and again we are reminded that the risen Christ continues to walk with His people.
During this Easter season, we also remember the quiet faith of St. Joseph, whose trust in God helped guide the Holy Family through uncertain times. Like Joseph, we are invited to trust that God is always at work, even when we cannot yet see the full picture.
The Resurrection assures us that God’s love is stronger than sin, stronger than suffering, and even stronger than death itself. As Saint Paul writes, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)
This is why we rejoice today. This is why the Church sings Alleluia. And this is why we can face the future with confidence. Christ is risen. He is alive. And because He lives, we live in hope.
May the joy of the Resurrection fill your hearts and homes during this Easter season.
I remember you at Mass. Happy Easter!
