EASTER MASS
Hundreds attend service
ALBANY, N.Y. » Area Catholics celebrated the most sacred day of the liturgical calendar on Sunday with Bishop Edward Scharfenberger.
Hundreds of church-goers attended the 11 a.m. Easter mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception in Albany. The service was lead by Scharfenberger, who is the tenth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. White Easter lilies decorated the altar of the huge 19th century cathedral for the occasion, and many visitors were wearing their Easter Sunday best.
After hearing the gospel story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Scharfenberger delivered a homily to the crowd about the believing in miracles, the presence of tyrants in the world and Christ’s willingness to everyone’s savior.
“If it’s hard to believe at first, you’re in good company,” Scharfenberger said, referring to those in the scriptures who doubted or did not understand Christ’s resurrection from the dead more than 2,000 years ago.
“Things are not always what they seem,” he continued. “Deep down, what we really hope is true is true.”
Scharfenberger went on to talk about people’s natural instinct to expect better in many aspects of life. “That’s because we all have this big hole in our hearts that can only be filled by something better than
“Believe that there can be a miracle in your life.” — Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany Edward Scharfenberger
anything we know,” he said. “We are hardwired for eternity. We are hardwired for a future that is more glorious than anything we can imagine. That’s our deepest instinct. That’s our deepest hope.”
The bishop also spoke in his homily about tyrants, ones who aim to control and manipulate in ways that harm, no matter what the scenario. He said, “Tyrants of the world, your time us up.”
From biblical times through today those tyrants exist, but Scharfenberger encouraged people to live free of them through faith. “Believe that there can be a miracle in your life,” he said, adding that the demons and tyrants are powerless “if you believe.”
Scharfenberger left his Easter Sunday audience with a final message that there’s hope for everyone, because Jesus will be everyone’s savior.
Along with being the savior of the world, “He is everyone’s personal savior,” the bishop said.
“Jesus wants to be your savior,” Scharfenberger said. “Anything that’s holding you back from believing, that’s where his hand wants to touch.”
All it takes, he told the crowd, is trust. “The only thing we have to do is just say yes. Just say Amen.”