Easter Message – “Do Not Be Afraid” (Matthew 28:1–10)

At first, today's Gospel sounds like a story about farming. Many of us enjoy gardening, and some of our parish families have spent generations working the land. It is natural to picture a farmer scattering seeds across a field. But Jesus is not teaching us about agriculture. He is teaching us about God. The sower is God Himself. The seed is His Word and His grace. The soil is our heart. The first thing Jesus wants us to notice is not the soil but the sower. He is amazingly generous. He scatters seed everywhere without measuring, without counting, and without asking whether the ground deserves it. Some seed falls on good soil, but some falls on rocky ground, among thorns, and even on the path. From a farmer's point of view, this may seem wasteful. From God's point of view, it is love. This is how God loves us. He never stops reaching out to us. He never says, "This person is not worth it." His grace is offered to everyone – the faithful and the struggling, the saint and the sinner, the young and the old, the rich and the poor. No one is outside His love. No one is forgotten. Then Jesus gently turns our attention to ourselves. What kind of soil is my heart today? Am I open to God's Word? Do I allow His grace to take root, grow, and bear fruit in my daily life? God gives the same seed to each of us. The difference is not in the seed but in how we receive it. The prophet Isaiah in the first reading today gives us a beautiful promise: God's Word never returns empty. Like the rain that waters the earth, His Word always brings life. God is always working quietly and faithfully, even when we cannot see it. The message of today’s liturgy is full of hope. Every new day God continues to sow His grace into our lives. Every new day gives us another chance to become good soil. Let us thank God for His generous love. Let us open our hearts to His Word. And let us trust that, with His grace, our lives can bear fruit far beyond what we could ever imagine.  Fr. Andrzej

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Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, traditionally known as Corpus Christi. Established in the thirteenth century to renew and honor the Church’s faith in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, this beautiful feast invites us to strengthen our faith and gratitude for one of the greatest gifts Jesus has given us – the Eucharist, His abiding presence among us. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol or a reminder of Christ. It is truly Jesus Himself – His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – given for our salvation and as nourishment for our spiritual journey. Because we celebrate this mystery so often, we can sometimes lose our sense of wonder. Corpus Christi calls us to pause and remember the extraordinary gift we receive whenever we come to Mass. We are invited to approach the altar with gratitude and to adore Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament with faith, love, and reverence. In today’s Gospel (John 6:51-58), Jesus says: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Jesus speaks these words with clarity and love. Through the Eucharist, He gives Himself completely to us so that we may remain close to Him and find strength for our daily lives. Yet our encounter with Christ does not end when Mass is over. The Lord whom we receive in Holy Communion is also present in our brothers and sisters, especially those who are poor, lonely, suffering, or in need. Jesus reminds us: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). The Eucharist not only nourishes us – it sends us forth. We receive the Body of Christ so that we may become His hands, His voice, and His heart in the world. The love we experience at the altar should be reflected in the love we show to others. Our worship of Christ in the Eucharist should lead us to recognize and serve Christ in those around us. As a parish family, we are blessed with many opportunities to grow closer to the Lord. I warmly invite you to join us for Daily Mass at 8:30 a.m., Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays at 6:00 p.m., and First Friday Adoration following the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Come and spend time with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. I also encourage you to participate in the ministries of our parish, where together we can share Christ’s love with those in need. May this beautiful feast renew our love for the Eucharist and deepen our desire to follow Jesus. May we recognize Him at the altar and in one another, and may His presence guide and strengthen us each day. Blessed Feast of Corpus Christi! Fr. Andrzej