Easter's Great Power

The power of Christ's resurrection continues to move our world. Throughout the globe, for instance, thousands of people joined the Catholic Church this past weekend through the Easter sacraments of Initiation. Thousands more, who had been baptized in Christian communities separated from us, took a profound step on their journeys of faith and entered the Catholic Church through a special profession of faith.

I send special congratulations and warm welcome especially to the hundreds who have entered the Church in parish Easter celebrations all across our diocese. I know that the joy and enthusiasm that we experienced at our celebration during the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Joseph was duplicated in parish after parish in our beloved Diocese of Jefferson City. Those who accompanied our new members and served as their sponsors during these past months are also to be congratulated. I know this is a special moment that you will treasure for the rest of your lives. And each of us, no matter how long ago we were baptized, have the opportunity once again to recognize the significance of the rising of Christ to new life and to decide again what we should be doing about it.

Yes, the power of Christ's resurrection continues to move our world. Another manifestation of the power of Christ's resurrection will be the hundreds of young people who will receive the sacrament of Confirmation this year. Most of our parishes schedule their Confirmation celebrations during the 50 days of the Easter Season. But no matter when the celebration takes place, it is through the power of the Risen Christ that we are able to receive His Holy Spirit, especially in the sacrament of Confirmation.

I treasure the opportunity to preside over these special moments in the lives of our young people. This Lent, 1,050 of our Confirmation candidates, accompanied by sponsors and parents, participated in the days of prayer for vocation discernment that were held in the Cathedral of St. Joseph on three different Sundays in Lent. We did this in order to impress on all of us the fact that this moment of grace, when our young people complete their initiation as full-fledged members of the Catholic Church, is not just a private moment of personal devotion.

Their confirmation should be expected to have a deep and important impact on the life of the whole Church. I look forward to being able to continue to highlight this important aspect of the Sacrament of Confirmation as I make my "tour" during this Easter Season. It is important for each candidate for the sacrament to realize that the whole Church has a stake in this moment. Each of them should also realize that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and should ask themselves what they are going to do about that fact. Through their openness to God's grace they will be able to respond more generously to their vocations as modern disciples of Jesus.

Each year I pray especially that those whom God is calling to the priesthood and religious life will be able to hear and answer the call. The longer I live the more I am convinced that God is calling, but that too many are simply not listening. The power of the Risen Christ is as strong as ever, but we have to be ready and willing to embrace this power. May our celebrations of Confirmation this year make us ready to accomplish great things for God.