As I sit to write this column on Easter Monday morning, I find myself reflecting over the fullness of this past Holy Week. It began with the services for Trooper Clardy – his wake on Monday afternoon and evening, and his funeral service on Tuesday. The tremendous outpouring of support by the community of Hudson and the community of the state and local police and police around the country became a moving and surprisingly appropriate beginning to the Holy Week celebration.
As we moved through the days later in the week we recalled the tragic death of another young man so many years go. His death did not bring out thousands of supporters and mourners, but only a handful of his disciples who were torn and frightened about lending their support.
Jesus too leaves behind a legacy – not a family and service to the community, but a legacy that transformed the sadness and inevitability of death into the promise of new and eternal life! As we continue to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead for the next fifty days, we are reminded over and over again what a gift we have received. Death no longer has power over us. Jesus has conquered sin and death and brought hope and promise into the darkest of days.
Our prayers continue to go forth for the Clardy Family during these most difficult days. And we also offer our prayers for the many in our own parish who have lost love ones in these recent weeks.
May the life saving message of the Resurrection permeate our lives and our hearts.