St. Joseph's Catholic Church

EASTER  SUNDAY

“The Tomb is Empty—Hope is Alive!”

Dear brothers and sisters in the Risen Christ,

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

He is truly risen! Alleluia!

Today the Church sings with joy. The stone has been rolled away. The tomb is empty. Death has been defeated. And in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we proclaim with renewed conviction: hope is not a wish—it is a Person. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.

We live in a world that often feels like Good Friday—marked by war, division, suffering, and spiritual fatigue. Many hearts are heavy. Many lives feel buried under stones of despair, addiction, failure, or grief. But Easter comes like a sunrise after a long night, and the Church declares: “He is not here. He has risen!” And with Him rises our hope.

Easter means our suffering is not the end.

Jesus bore the cross. He knew pain, betrayal, loneliness. But He rose—showing us that suffering is not the last word. The resurrection does not erase the cross, but it transforms it. Whatever wounds we carry, we can place them in the hands of the Risen One, whose own wounds shine with glory.

In this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis invites us to become pilgrims of hope. That begins with believing that even the darkest tombs in our lives can be opened by God’s love.

Easter means we are not alone.

When the Risen Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the apostles in the upper room, He came not with condemnation, but with peace: “Do not be afraid.” His resurrection is not just an event—it is a presence. He is with us. In our homes, our parish, our struggles.

Hope is not an escape from reality. It is the assurance that Jesus walks with us, breathes life into what seems dead, and leads us forward—even through locked doors.

Easter means our mission is not over.

The resurrection sends us out. The angel told the women, “Go and tell his disciples…” The risen Christ says to us today: Go and bring hope to others. The world is hungry for signs of life, for reasons to believe, for witnesses of joy. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Church must shine with the light of the resurrection—not just in word, but in love, in service, in mercy.

So what does Easter ask of us?

To open our hearts to the Risen Christ. To roll away the stones that keep us in fear. To live as people of hope in our homes, our parish, our communities. To proclaim by our lives: “Christ is alive—and He changes everything.”

Dear friends, Easter is not a fairytale. It is the deepest truth of our faith: the tomb is empty—and hope is alive. Let us walk as children of the resurrection. Let us become living signs of hope in a weary world.

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad!

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

He is truly risen! Alleluia!

Amen.