Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
1st Peter 1:3–4

By the grace of God, we were able to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Easter Sunday (March 31). The Easter season invites us to look deep within our own lives, our community, our nation, and our world. When we reflect on these things, we come to the realization that our lives and even the world that we live in are broken and in need of great healing. This healing can only come about when we live the Spirit-filled life that we have been called to live through the power of the Resurrection.
 
Through the power of the Resurrection, we are assured of the fact that nothing in our often-discouraging lives can defeat or destroy us. We are told in 1st Corinthians 6:14 that God who has raised up Jesus from the dead will also raise us up by the same Spirit that dwells in us. This is the promise of life everlasting which gives us great hope. Not only is this our great hope, but it is also our source of immense joy and satisfaction. This is our confidence in God’s Spirit dwelling in each one of us, leading us faithfully every day.
 
God promises that we will never walk alone throughout the journey of life. He promises us the powerful presence of His Spirit. Thus, we need to take time each day to get in touch with the Spirit within each of us. We need to draw on that power and pray that the stones in our lives will be rolled away from our individual, community, and national lives. We must allow the Spirit to shine in and through us so that we can faithfully and courageously walk in the light of the Risen Lord. If we do this, we will bring light, hope, peace, and justice to our own lives and to our broken world.
 
Easter is a time to renew and deepen our faith and to celebrate and live out our faith as God so desires. A renewal of faith in our individual and family lives will provide us and the church with new energy to carry out the mission of God faithfully and fruitfully by being more authentic witnesses for Christ. As we live in the power of the Resurrection, may the Spirit of God strengthen us all to spread the Easter message with cheer and confidence, enabling us to experience healing and to bring healing to our world.
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May the blessings of God Almighty be with all of you!

With love and prayers,
Rev. Christopher Phil Daniel
Vicar, Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church
Connecticut