GARY – “Christ has risen. He has risen indeed!"
Bishop Robert J. McClory, fifth bishop of the Diocese of Gary, greeted the congregation at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels with those words on Easter Sunday.
During the homily on April 5, Bishop McClory noted that when Easter approaches, he is often drawn to remember an important date in his own life – Oct. 27, 1963. He said he recalls that date because Pope Francis asked all Catholics to know their baptismal day; and that is the date on which the bishop was baptized.
Bishop McClory explained that the sacrament of baptism calls to mind “the great gift that the Lord gives us in Easter.”
“What we believe is not just kind of a set of historical facts about things that happened 2,000 years ago,” he said. “We believe nothing less than that Jesus Christ indeed is the Son of God whose death and resurrection opened up the pathway for forgiveness and mercy in this life, empowering us to share that mercy with others, by what we say, and by what we do, and to have everlasting life through the waters of baptism."
Bishop McClory acknowledged that at the time of baptism for infants, it's the parents who proclaim for the child, “Yes, I want to be baptized.” Later, through the renewing of baptismal promises, the individual has the opportunity to say for themselves, “Yes, I do. I believe.”
Bishop McClory stated that the grace of baptism is renewed in the Easter season. He explained that the sacrament isn’t something that just happens, but is something that is received, and something that the faithful can ask the Lord to be released day by day, so as not to grow weary in the faith.
“Because our baptism shouldn't just be a historical memory either,” he said. “It should be a lived reality. When we embrace the fullness of what Jesus has to give to us, our lives are transformed and renewed."
Turning attention to the Gospel readings for the day, Bishop McClory noted that the apostle Peter was among the first to visit the tomb of Jesus. Scripture states he saw and he immediately believed that Jesus had risen from the dead. Peter then began explaining to those he encountered who Jesus was in their lives and then invited them to respond.
“That's the same thing we do today,” said the bishop. “We explain who Jesus is. He is not just a collection of facts. We tell people about His love for us and our relationship to him, and then we give people the opportunity to respond.”
Bishop McClory continued, “All of us here today have someone who has revealed Christ to us. And all of us here today are ones who can reveal Christ to others. Let's not just renew what we believe, but how we will respond in light of that, renewing the grace of our baptismal day.”
Bishop McClory then asked the faithful to renew the promises of Holy Baptism. He invited those in the cathedral to stand and respond to a series of questions with “I do.”: Do you renounce Satan and all his works and all his empty show? Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only son, Our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead, and is seated at the right hand of the Father? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Patrick Ford had been to the cathedral before for the Mass of Ordination last year with his son, Issac. He returned to the Gary church as his son was assisting as an altar server during the Easter liturgy.
Ford shared that what he enjoys most about Easter is the message of the Resurrection, understanding that “Our Lord and Savior rose from the dead.”
“It’s what the entire faith is based on,” Ford noted. “If we don't have the Resurrection, we don't have anything to look forward to.”
Betty Phillips said she, too, looks forward to celebrating the Resurrection each year. She has been assisting during services at the cathedral for more than 30 years and enjoys the parish community there.
“I’ve been a member for years,” she said, “and I always look forward to Holy Week.”
