He is Risen. We proclaim these words to one another in the joy of Easter. It is a time of new beginningsas we recall the Easter vigil’s rituals: theblessingof the new fire, of the new water, of the newly baptized and the lighting of the paschal candle. The Easter dawn that awakened you softens into the brightness of day. Liturgical celebrations complete, we remain 

It is a profound expression of Christs’ love among us and in spite of our weaknesses and limitations God continues to love us. For me, this is the essence of Holy Thursday; that God who is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent divine, shared his precious banquet with us, for us to be reconciled and save from all our defilement. Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because he loves us. God's whole plan for our salvation is directed to our participation in the life of the Trinity, the communion of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As Jesus gazed on the supporting, sorrowing women on His way to Calvary, I wonder did He look down through the ages and see the suffering and pain of generations when He prayed “weep not for me but for yourselves and for your children” These women probably had cared for Him during His ministry and were well known by Him

Our readings today remind us of our baptism. The waters of the flood heralded a new beginning. In this event God renewed his covenant with all of his creation and left us a reminder in the heavens, the rainbow. As Noah and his family were saved by the flood so we too are saved by our baptism; our baptism by which we are made children of God, we become a new creation.