Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May Our Lord’s presence and triumph fill your hearts with peace and joy this sacred Season of Easter and always!
When the risen Christ appears to the disciples, his first words to them are, “Peace be with you.” In these difficult and challenging times for our world, today we are reminded of these first words heard by the disciples. Like them, we too should desire to be with him, the risen Lord. He is the center of peace and when we participate in his Easter triumph, we encounter his peace.
The peace of Christ flows from his victory over sin and death. In the last 40 days, we have striven to turn away from the evils that divide us from God and put us into conflict with one another. This Easter, therefore, we pray with special fervor the plea for peace offered in every Eucharist: that Our Lord Jesus Christ may look not on our sins but on our faith and graciously grant us his peace and unity. May we, in turn, joyfully and courageously carry his saving graces to our hurting world.
Entrust yourself, your families, our nation and our world to Our Lord Jesus and his saving power. May he bless you and your families and fill you with his peace at Easter and always.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
Bishop of Arlington
