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‘ Mary Magdalene ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus Loved and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb and we don’t know where they have put him!” Jn 20:2 During these fifty days of celebrating Easter, the Gospel passages we proclaim tell the experiences of the disciples as they encountered the Lord on that first Easter. It wasn’t they who found the risen Lord, rather, it was Jesus risen from the dead who found them! He found Mary Magdalene weeping outside the tomb. She mistakenly thought him the gardener, until Jesus called her by name, and she recognized him. He found the disciples gathered in fear in a room behind locked doors. In spite of the locked doors, He appeared, calmed their fear and greeted them with His gift of peace. He found Thomas, stubbornly refusing to believe until he could see and touch Jesus for himself, and Jesus personally invited him to see, and touch and believe! He found two disciples as they walked despairingly on the road to Emmaus. Their hearts burned as Jesus opened their minds to understand the scriptures. Then as he broke bread with them, they recognized him. Some of the Apostles had gone fishing. They had caught nothing until Jesus found them, called to them from the shore and encouraged them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. They recognized him and he prepared a breakfast of bread and fish for them. Where has Jesus found you this Easter? Do you seek the living among the dead? Where in your own experiences are you giving witness to the truth that Christ is truly risen!! ? I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire parish community of Good Shepherd, to acknowledge with gratitude, the many people who faithfully contributed their gifts of time, talent and treasure, through various liturgical, pastoral, musical, environmental, educational and human service ministries, through the RCIA and also those giving witness through individual efforts, have made Easter a vibrant, faith filled experience for the rest of us. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” Jesus said to his disciples on that first Easter.” Jn 20:22 It was while sharing a meal that the disciples recognized the risen Christ in several of the Easter stories. Consider that in these difficult economic times, while other agencies were experiencing difficulty in obtaining donations of food, the pantry at Good Shepherd has remained well stocked. Besides serving the needs of over thirty local families, we reached out to people in a neighboring parish and to a Soup Kitchen in another town. Many of our youngsters are receiving their First Communion in this Easter season. May they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the Bread. When you generously support the parish financially, and whenever you respond individually or through one of our Parish Social Ministries, to the needs of the hungry, the lonely, the homeless, the grieving, the frightened, as well as the sick in mind and body and spirit, you give witness that Christ is risen. While it is true that we liturgically celebrate Easter for fifty days, the reality that Christ is risen must influence our lives and all we meet, in season and out of season, whether convenient or inconvenient. As disciples of Jesus Christ, who worship at Good Shepherd, when you support each other in love and service, and give witness to the Good News of salvation, may you continue to be found by Jesus and through you may Jesus find others who don’t yet know where they have put him, and thus we will enable others to experience the presence of our Risen Lord. Gratefully, Father Tom
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Dear
Parishioners.