Bishop Fisher says to put on resurrection glasses at Easter Mass

As Bishop Michael W. Fisher welcomed all in celebration to the Easter Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral on March 31, he exclaimed, “We are finally ready to say alleluia, for He is risen”

On that bright and cool morning, Bishop Fisher extolled all as people of hope, and people who believe.

He welcomed all new Catholics who have recently completed their Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and had entered the faith on the Easter Vigil Mass throughout the diocese. 

As the bishop stood behind the lectern of the cathedral that was brimming with a bounty of colorful flowers, he spoke of the same fire, that same zeal that converts to the Church exhibit as Jesus did on the day where the Lord keeps his promise.

“Our God is a God that doesn’t forget us,” Bishop Fisher explained. “He does what He says he is going to do, and He has risen from the dead and has opened the gates of heaven for each one of us. He is risen indeed, alleluia.”

As he recounted the Gospel reading of John 20:1-9, the bishop said that the absence of the body of Jesus will spring into “one of the most fantastic spiritual adventures for all of humanity.”

When the tomb was found empty, there were stories that according to the Letters to St. Paul harassed the early Christians.

The stories told that Jesus’ body was stolen, and some said He did not completely die, and awakened and left the tomb.

The empty tomb also was a matter of controversy among the early apostles.

The bishop said that from time to time after His death, he showed himself to the apostles, but He was not recognized or confused for others.

“The guarantee for us is our resurrection with the Lord, and He is the promise, he is the first gift of the Holy Spirit.”

“This is why He had to die fully and experience our humanity,” he continued. “What we fear most in our own life and that’s our death. … We are also going to rise up in union with Him and that’s the basis for our hope.”

Bishop Fisher continued and said that Jesus was appearing beyond the door of death and the light of faith was gradually chasing away all doubt and fear. 

Easter is the turning point in our faith history and this is our fantastic journey that He has taken us on.

St. Peter is perplexed and confused at the sight of the burial wrappings, but what profoundly happens to Peter is that he eventually goes to the cross like His Savior, like his teacher, like his friend. 

“What will cause him to embrace that faith and the promises of God as 40 days later Peter will be proclaiming that this Jesus you crucified, God raised him up, and for that, we are all witnesses.”  

“Why is the tomb empty? It is the angel who gives us the answer. … ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead so it is among the living that here after He may be seen.’ 

“At Easter, we are born anew, and our eyes are opened as we put on our resurrection glasses and have faith that God has kept his promise. Let the tomb remain empty. Let us not put back a corpse who soon would become an idol. For the Lord is risen, He is truly risen, indeed.”

“Have a blessed Easter, alleluia.”