Florida Catholic | Recent Columns :: Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ

An Easter message from the office of the bishop

MARCH 21, 2008 | We approach the Easter season early this year, the earliest possible date it can be celebrated. It occurs just a few days after the first day of spring, as nature struggles to shred the last remains of winter and welcomes the sunny days of birds, bugs and flowers.

Within this natural environment, we also reflect on the greater drama that is unfolding in the liturgy in our parishes: the celebration of the Lord’s Passover from death to life. We also note that this Easter is celebrated at a time when many individuals and families in our nation struggle with unprecedented economic hardships and difficulty. The news is dominated by global violence, conflict and the gross violations of human life, human dignity and human rights.

Bishop Ricard’s Christmas message

DECEMBER 21, 2007 | I think that most of us would agree that Christmas is a symbol of hope. I was visiting a second-grade class recently and I asked the children what are some reasons for celebrating Christmas. After some comments were made about receiving presents and Santa Claus, one of the second-graders summed it all up perfectly when he said that it is because it is the day when Christ came into our world so that we might find our way back to his. I don’t know if that insightful little boy ever studied St. Peter’s letters in depth, because what St. Peter wrote reflects something very similar. In 1 Peter 3:18, we’re told that Christ came into our world and died for our sins in order to lead us back to God. That through Christ we might find our way back to God is our great hope, the distillation of all our yearnings and the end of all our journeys.

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