I am soooooo confused!
Let me explain.

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

Incredulous – a fancy word. It is one of those words we use when we don’t want to clearly say that a person is disbelieving.

The disciples were incredulous for joy – still disbelieving even though they had already touched Jesus. The two disciples just returned from Emmaus had walked and talked with Jesus, broken bread with Him. Yet they were still incredulous…

Here we are – the disciples still skeptical, disbelieving, unable or unwilling to believe that Jesus was standing with them and that they weren’t just seeing things. They needed to admit and accept that Jesus did rise; that He was standing there, that this was all very real and true. They needed help.

Perhaps the disciples were feeling like we do. Someone has taken the time to explain something, yet we just don’t get it. They can see it on our face even as we nod along saying, ‘Sure, I understand, I get it.’

Jesus had spent three years with His disciples. He revealed so much. He prayed with them. He talked about His Father. He revealed that He is the Son of God and son of man. They heard the Father’s voice; they saw the Spirit descend on Him in the form of a dove. They saw Him raise the dead – three times – something only God can do.

They nodded along the whole time, ‘Yes Jesus, I understand, I get it.’ They loved Him, perhaps they didn’t want to make Him mad by making Him have to explain the same thing over and over? Of course, He knew, He saw the confusion, the incredulity on their faces.

So, Jesus asked for a fish fry and proceeded to eat and teach them – to reveal everything so that they could connect the dots.

The Messiah had to offer sacrificial atonement for our sins. The sacrifice to be offered was the Messiah’s death. Based on His faithfulness, the Father raised the Messiah – and made a promise that all of us would rise too because God reigns over all opposition, even death. Finally, that the Messiah would call a group of faithful and dedicated followers to spread the news – that God came among us, was born, suffered, died, was buried, rose again, and ascended into heaven – all out of love for us.

The disbelief among the disciples was ended. It wasn’t just the fish dinner. They “got it.” They understood and received empowerment in the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The world is full of disbelief – but we have the ultimate power to make things clear and understandable. Go out and end the confusion. Connect the dots. End the incredulity!

Where’s heaven?
I know, it doesn’t look like it, but right here.

“With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus”

It is a typical question children may ask, where is heaven? Truthfully, we all wonder too, where is heaven?

Scripture tells us that God created the universe in six days. Of course, the universe is what we can see and perceive. As human beings, and people who live in a culture where science has helped us so much, we may think that we could somehow analyze how things work and find that place, that part of matter and energy where we might find God and His dwelling.

If we believe, and we should, that God created the heavens and the earth we know that God’s dwelling exists apart from what we can perceive with senses and science. Heaven exists outside the dimensions of both space and time.

God’s revelation in scripture gives us glimpses into what heaven will be like. Jesus told us that He will prepare a place for us. He tells us that it will be like a great banquet. In heaven there will be no sadness, only joy, and it will be a place of light. We also know, that based on what Thomas and the other apostles and disciples experienced in meeting Jesus after the resurrection that our bodies will be imperishable, we will be glorious, powerful, and spiritual.

The problem, of course, is that we tend to perceive heaven as a different and separate place we have to get to. This can be dangerous since we may focus all our energy on getting there to the detriment of building God’s kingdom here as we are asked to do.

God and His heavenly kingdom permeate time and space. God’s kingdom – heaven – is all around us and in us. One day, and we pray soon, they will come together. We will be joined to God, the dead will be raised, and we will live together in an entirely new place, as told in the Book of Revelation 21:1: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.

How do we get there? Through repentance from sin and being regenerated in Him. We must accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then, by doing the things necessary to build the kingdom of God.

Heaven is here, all around us. To see it, to best get there, we must work to bring people to faith in Jesus. Then, working together, we must do our all to show what the kingdom will be like – by our charity, by love for all.

Like the apostles, that’s how we must bear witness to the resurrection.

What is the Lord saying to us this Easter? He is telling us that we no longer have to fear, for there is nothing we can ever do, there is no sin too great, there is no hurt to deep that cannot be forgiven by the power of the Resurrection! He is saying to us: “I am Christ. Come all you nations, receive forgiveness for the sins that defile you. I am your forgiveness. I am the Passover that brings salvation. I am the lamb that was sacrificed for you. I am your ransom, your life, your resurrection, your light; I am your salvation and your king. I will bring you to the heights of heaven. With my own right hand, I will raise you up” (from an Easter homily by Melito of Sardis), and I will draw you into my heart where you will live in the presence of God forever.

Come, rejoice, our Lord is risen,
Come sing out the proclamation.
Come sing of His Resurrection.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Lo, our Heav’nly King comes to us,
As a flow’r, arrayed so beauteous,
Over death He reigns victorious.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

All the pow’rs of hell are broken,
All the foes of God are fallen,
Yet us, He has not forsaken.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Three days in the tomb He lay there,
The fate of mankind He would bear,
That His life all mankind might share.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O Lord, through Thy Resurrection,
May we find from sin redemption,
And at last know Thy Salvation.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Let the Resurrection Joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness.

Happy Easter!
Fr. Adam with wife Danuta and sons Rafal and Marek.

Co Chrystus Pan mówi nam w ten Wielkanocny czas? Chrystus mówi nam, ze nie musimy siÄ™ już lÄ™kać, gdyż nie ma takiej rzeczy, którÄ… kiedykolwiek uczynimy, nie ma tak wielkiego grzechu, nie ma tak gÅ‚Ä™bokich ran, które by nie mogÅ‚y być przebaczone mocÄ… Zmartwychwstania! On mówi nam: “To ja jestem Chrystusem. Przyjdźcie zatem, wszystkie rodziny ludzkie, wszystkie w grzechach grzÄ™znÄ…ce, a otrzymacie odpuszczenie grzechów. Ja bowiem jestem waszym odpuszczeniem, Ja – Pascha zbawienia, Ja – baranek za was ofiarowany, Ja – wasz okup, Ja – życie wasze, Ja – zmartwychwstanie wasze, Ja – Å›wiatÅ‚o wasze, Ja – zbawienie wasze, Ja – król wasz, To Ja was wiodÄ™ na wyżyny niebieskie” (z Homilii Paschalnej Melitona z Sardes), i Ja was pociÄ…gnÄ™ do Serca Swego, gdzie na wieki bÄ™dziecie żyć w obecnoÅ›ci Boga.

Wesoły nam dzień dziś nastał,
Którego z nas każdy żądał:
Tego dnia Chrystus zmartwychwstał,
Alleluja, Alleluja!

Król niebieski k`nam zawitał,
Jako śliczny kwiat. zakwitał:
Po śmierci się nam pokazał.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

Piekielne moce zwojował,
Nieprzyjaciele podeptał,
Nad nędznymi się zmiłował.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

Do trzeciego dnia tam mieszkał,
Ojce święte tam pocieszał.
Potem iść za sobą kazał.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

Przez Twe święte Zmartwychwstanie,
daj nam grzechów odpuszczenie,
a potem wieczne zbawienie!
Alleluja, alleluja!

Pozwólmy, aby Radość Zmartwychwstania wydźwignęła nas z osamotnienia, słabości i rozpaczy ku mocy, pięknu i szczęściu.
Wesołego Alleluja!

Ks. Adam z żoną Danutą oraz synami Rafałem i Markiem.

Yippie!!!!!!!!!
Did our team score?

“Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.”

Yippie, alleluia, celebrate, rejoice, dance, sing, shout out, jubilate, glorify, praise, laud, revel, feast, exalt, delight, smile, rise up, laugh, cheer, make merry!

Our team has scored, we have won, and we didn’t even have to play.

One person – the God-man Jesus Christ stuck with it the entire time, He sacrificed, fought hard, laid out our strategy for success, and gave His all, His very life so that our team would win.

Jesus’ victory is the reason we celebrate today. On Good Friday He completed the course. His sacrificial death washed us in His blood. We are no longer bound to sin and death, but freed. When the Father looks at us, His children, He sees His Son Jesus in us. He loves us so much – in the very same way He loves His Son.

Today, Jesus has shown us the promise – what we will be like forever. Since we are in Him and He is in us, we know that we will be exactly like Him in the resurrection.

The VICTORY? – The power of death has been overcome. Death is no more. The devil has been crushed and he holds no power over us.

What does this victory, nearly 2,000 years ago mean for me today?

Christ’s victory means all of the following and much more:

• We will live forever.
• The world cannot tell us that this is it; there is nothing else.
• We have nothing to fear.
• We have true power and freedom.
• We are beautiful in God’s eyes.
• We have a path and a plan that makes our lives wonderful here on earth.
• We have reason to celebrate.
• We are all family – as God’s children, Jesus’ brother and sisters, and as community to each other for we have one faith and hope.

We have reason to proclaim this message: God came to save us and did redeem us. We have won because Jesus won the ultimate victory. He has risen, death is no more for us, GUARANTEED!

Lent 2011 was different.
The Triduum this year was different.
Even this morning things are different.

There have been years wherein Easter didn’t click; Easter was just a time to pass through, or pass over, as would use the terminology from this time. Tradition plays a deep part in our reckoning of times that we pass over in our lives. Tradition brought me to a point this Lent, this Triduum, which I’ve never been to before.

This morning, we have a choice before us. Jesus didn’t stay in Gethsemane. He walked through, walked to Calvary, and walked out of the tomb. Our choice is where we want to be this morning: staying in Gethsemane, still waiting by the Cross, or walking with Jesus, yea, even skipping with Jesus through the garden on a day of Resurrection.

Personally, without all of you here this morning, my choice would be more difficult; but because we have walked through Gethsemane, I can’t look back; I want to continue to walk with Jesus through Calvary and from the tomb – the tomb of doubt and worry, the tomb of confusion, the tomb of the unknown. Jesus did it all in three days; I’m not sure how long it will be for each of us. But what I do know is that Jesus will be waiting up ahead, speaking our name, calling to us, and waiting to take us forward, wherever that may be. Whatever path you take from the garden this morning, please believe that Jesus is there waiting for you. There’s no need to look back at the garden; what was done there is done – there are exciting and new adventures ahead. There may be other Gethsemanes, but, hey, once you’ve walked through one, it’s hard not to remember the recipe.

My friends, may His Holy Resurrection give us the power to walk on, to persevere, to apply ourselves to the challenges ahead! Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!

Fr. Stan

I tak cały świat staje się
zwierciadłem Jego chwały,
Tak niech nasze serca
odzwierciedlają radość
Jego blogosławieństwa i miłości.

Pełnych spokoju i miłości
Świąt Bożego Zmartwychwstania,
Z radosnym Alleluja
życzą.

Rev. Stanisław i Deborah
Joshua i Hannah

Drodzy Siostry i Bracia,

Zmartwychwstanie Chrystusa Pana to postawa naszej wiary. Po wiekach oczekiwana przychodzi Zbawiciel – Chrystus! GÅ‚osi Swoja naukÄ™ – EwangeliÄ™ ÅšwiÄ™tego, czyni cuda, jaÅ›nieje Å›wiÄ™toÅ›ciÄ…. Åšwiat otwiera pomaÅ‚u oczy, wyciÄ…ga don ramiona, upadajÄ… siÄ™ sÅ‚odka nadzieja. Nagle wszystko siÄ™ zmienia. Chrystus Pan pojamy, umÄ™czony, ginie Å›mierci haniebna, staszna na krzyżu. JakiÅ› cios dla naszej wiary! ZwÄ…tpienie ogarnia serca. Ten Å›laby, zdeptany czÅ‚owiek jest ze Synem Bożym, Bogiem, Zbawicielem? Jest za nauka Jego Boska, cuda prawdziwie? Gdzie moc, potÄ™ga Jego? UmarÅ‚, okryty haÅ„bÄ…. JeÅ›li nie speÅ‚ni obietnicy, nie stanie z grobu, daremne nadzieje Å›wiata “JeÅ›li Chrystus nie powstaÅ‚, próżne przepowiadanie naszym próżna jest wiara nasza!” (1 Kor. 15:14) Pod tym kamieniem grobowym spoczywaÅ‚ los naszej wiary! Nie otworzy siÄ™, tedy wszystko zginęło, zawiodÅ‚o nas. Lecz nie! AnioÅ‚, jak bÅ‚yskawic zstÄ™puje z nieba, odwala kamieÅ„. Chrystus powstaje grobu. PrzybiegajÄ… niewiasty, ApostoÅ‚owie – AnioÅ‚ im gÅ‚osi: “Wstaci z martwych!” WstaÅ‚ z martwych wÅ‚asna mocÄ…, pokonaÅ‚ Å›mierć po wiÄ™c udowodniÅ‚, że jest Bogiem prawdziwym ze dzieÅ‚a zbawienie istotnie speÅ‚nić. Zmartwychwstanie tedy to pieczęć, fundament, podstawÄ…, pokoja trudy, przelewajÄ… krew, życie oddajÄ…. I my dziÅ› tak wierzymy, i my woÅ‚amy z Piotrem Åšw.,: “Pan mój i Bóg mój!” Zadna siÅ‚Ä…, pokusa, nie zachwieje wiary naszej: z radoÅ›ciÄ… i chÅ‚ubÄ… odpowiadamy “Wiem, komu uwierzyÅ‚em” (2 Tym 1:12).

Wszystkiem Wiernym naszego parafii, bÄ™dziemy razem gÅ‚oÅ›no mówić – “WesoÅ‚ego Alleluja!”

Oddany w Bogu,
Ks. Stanisław

If you find yourself sitting in Church this Easter Sunday a little bit smug; if you have walked into our parish building with your shoulders a bit more square; if you strode to your pew with a strong sense of confidence; if you are sitting here reading this text with an air of “holier than thou” — then you’ve got this Easter thing down fairly well.

It’s not that you are here with a disposition of haughtiness nor a feeling of superiority, but if you do have a self-sense that is really communicating a package of “I’m really something very important this morning” — then you’ve got this Easter thing down fairly well.

You see, it’s the feeling that this morning everything around you is here for you is really pretty much what God would want you to feel this morning — it has all been done for you! But here’s the catch — as you look around at those who are in the pew beside you, behind you, in front of you, and all around — they’re feeling the same thing, or at least they should be.

The grave could not hold Jesus. A 47-gazillion pound boulder blocking the entrance of his tomb was but a piece of fluff that could be rolled away for Jesus to get on with the work of the day. Work?, you ask. Of course! He had to make sure that the two disciples got into a racing match to see who could beat the other to the cemetery; He had to find Mary Magdalene crying in the garden to let her know that she was all right; He had to meet the two disciples on the road to let them know that their despair was misplaced; He had work to do to let these folk know that He did it all for them. And, as you have probably figured out, He is doing the same thing for you this morning — He wants you to know that He did it all for you, and those who are in the pew beside you, behind you, in front of you, and all around.

May your smugness, square shoulders, and wide striding steps lead you to the truth that — Jesus lives! — for you!

Fr. Stan

Drodzy Siostry i Bracia,

Wielkanoc, nasz Paschalnym Uroczystość, jest nas większym świętem Chrześcijańskiego świata. Jest to dzień, która przywraca na mysł cud Zmartwychwstania Pana Jezusa Chrystusa.

Historyczny fakt Zmartwychwstania jest kamieniem węgielnym naszej Chrześcijańskiej wiary, niezbitym dowodem Bóstwa misji na świecie.

“Ten jest dzień, który Pan uczynił, weselmy i radujmy się w nim.” Wielkanoc jest tryumfalnym świętem Chrześcijańskiego roku, w którym radośnie ochodzimy wejście Chrystusa do swej chwały. Jego zwycięstwo nad śmiercią i Zmartwychwstania do nowego życia.

Niech ta Wielkanoc będzie dla Was świata i błogosławioną; niech Zbawiciel Zmartwychwstały obdarzy Was szczęściem i duchowym zadowoleniem.

W tej radości, pamiętamy o naszym świętym Kościele i okazamy wdzięczności Panu Bogu za Jego łaski nam dane przez złożenie hojnej ofiary, która będzie wyrazem naszej troski, miłości o poświęcenie się dla swego Kościoła.

Oddany w Bogu,

ks. Stanisław