O Happy Fault...

The Exultant for the Easter Vigil proclaims, “O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a redeemer!” These words proclaim with power the amazing reality that despite the failure of Adam and Eve, which then continued with each human being’s sin (except with the Blessed Virgin Mary), up until Jesus Christ came in the flesh (sin that continues in us to this day), yet God came. God, despite our denial, our rebellion, and our fear came for us, to save us. We were that special, that precious to Him. Then to boot, Jesus died for our sins. God literally suffered for us, to blot out our sins. Finally, on Easter, “Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld” to borrow another line from the Exultant. His Resurrection truly happened, and His Resurrection prefigures our own resurrection in which we will receive glorified bodies that will imitate Christ’s glorified form. A salvation through Jesus Christ recap: He came in the flesh sharing in everything human save sin. He took our sin upon Himself and put to death our sin by His death. Then, by His Resurrection, He offered us a share in eternal life. We sinned and God in turn promised us a new glorified existence in eternal life. We Christians have received the greatest deal in human history...our sin and death traded in for eternal life in Christ! O happy fault indeed! I hope you all get to experience the goodness of the Lord in sharing time with family and friends. It is always a good opportunity to experience the communion of heaven in a small way when we gather together as family and friends at Easter parties. Know of my prayers for you and your family today and always. It has been such a blessing to be your pastor for almost a year. The kindness of so many individuals and the beauty of family life in Shelby County are just a few of the wonderful blessings I encounter on a daily basis. Thank you for all the gifts you bestow upon your priests, your parishes, and your communities.

We have accomplished a lot and I am sorry if there is any way I have hurt any of you over the past year. I am far from perfect; I am trying my best and my best will never be enough. But the Lord Jesus Christ provides me with what I need and what each of you need. So please forgive me and pray that the Lord will provide, despite all of our shortcomings and sins. The Lord often prunes us to provide us with new growth and new opportunities to experience His abundant life.

Next weekend, we will have a number of Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations. There will be a Divine Mercy Holy Hour at Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Michael, and Holy Angels. Two confessors will be available from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart and two confessors will be available from 3:00-4:00 p.m. at St. Michael. Holy Angels Holy Hour will be done by a deacon, and there will be no Confessions available. But wait...isn’t Divine Mercy Sunday all about Confessions? Yes, it is, but in St. Faustina’s Diary the focus of the Feast of Mercy is upon three things. First, that Divine Mercy be proclaimed by priests on this feast. Second, that the image of Divine Mercy be venerated in some manner on Divine Mercy Sunday as an act of thanksgiving for the mercy God has bestowed throughout Lent up to Divine Mercy Sunday. And third, we receive Holy Communion worthily on this feast at Sunday Mass. Confession is central but often precedes the Feast of Divine Mercy. St. Faustina herself went to Confession shortly before Divine Mercy Sunday and the Marian Fathers, a religious order that has a special devotion to Divine Mercy, say that the entirety of Lent is a preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday. So, even going to Confession throughout Lent and Holy Week adequately prepares one for this feast. In short, Divine Mercy Sunday is meant to be a feast of thanksgiving for the Divine Mercy received in the lead-up to Divine Mercy Sunday itself: It is not so much about going to Confession on Divine Mercy Sunday itself (although one can certainly do that.) Thank you to everyone who helped with Holy Week in any way.

It is a busy time for many, and I am grateful for the sacrifices so many make to ensure that Holy Week is the holiest part of the liturgical year. Thank you for all you do! Praise to our Risen Savior Jesus Christ who bestows all that is good! May He be adored for the mercy and grace He gives at all times.

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Jarred Kohn