DEAR EDITOR: We are in the Easter season once more, a time when we celebrate our Lord's resurrection from the dead. It is a time for reflection as we share in the resurrection as our lives are renewed.

However, my dear Catholics, have we embraced the Lord to share in His love for us? Do we yet understand the role of the Church in bringing us to life in the Lord?

The sacramental life of the Church is extremely important in understanding this. By this I mean, embracing the outward signs that Christ Jesus has instituted in all His love for us to truly experience the inward grace that God gives us. The greatest of these is the Holy Eucharist - the Body and Blood of Christ, and it is the one that is least understood.

Those of us who deny the sacraments and treat them as secondary rebel against the very God we say we love. In respect to the Sacrament of Penance, many Catholics believe that they should not confess their sins to the priest, they can confess directly to God.

Yes, we can confess our sins to God however, Jesus vested His apostles with power from on high, to forgive sins and to retain sins in the name of the Blessed Trinity.

The priest cannot forgive or retain sins on his own accord, only through the triune God. If we perceive the sacrament in this way, then it will be easier to accept the grace that can be received through it.

In respect to the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, many Catholics still do not believe in the real Presence of Christ Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine. The last meal Jesus had on earth as a man was with His apostles.

Just as He vested them with power to forgive and retain sins, He broke bread with His disciples, again vesting them with the power to proclaim His death through the blessing and breaking of bread, as He said, "Do this as a memorial of me."

The priest represents the apostle who is clothed by the Holy Spirit and he blesses the bread and wine (consecration) to make it the Body and Blood of Christ. At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist the priest also asks that the offering be made acceptable to God the Father.

It is important that we carefully witness the events during each part of liturgy, and see how they relate to the sacramental life of which we now speak. The Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist are very closely related.

The former prepares you to receive the grace from the latter. If we are in a state of serious sin, for example, adultery, fornication, greed, and unforgiveness, the Eucharist we receive becomes condemnation to us rather than grace to be received (see 1 Corinthians 11:28ff).

So, in order to cleanse ourselves from that shameful sin we commit, we must be prepared to go before the priest knowing that He is vested with the power of Christ Jesus Himself to absolve us of our sins.

We go believing that our sins will be totally forgiven because God Himself has so promised. Only then will the Eucharist serve to strengthen us and help us to become more like Jesus every day.

It is indeed a struggle to believe everything that the Church teaches, but God in His wisdom knows why He gave us such a treasure dating back many centuries, and a faith that has been tried and tested by many men and women around the world.

The most important underlying factor is faith in a loving God, and perseverance to proclaim His truth. The readings from the Acts of the Apostles we have been hearing in this Easter season all tell of men and women who were won over by Jesus, and despite the circumstances they faced, they all persevered in spreading the Good News of Christ Jesus. What do we learn from this?

Lord, help us to understand your Word and make us more reverent to your Holy Name. Are you willing to give Jesus your all?
MARINA MARCANO
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando

DEAR EDITOR: At the time of writing I see a yellow leaf fall from a mango tree and I think of Sr Diane Jagdeo. Sister made me aware of creation during one of her lectures and since then I have become mindful of my environment. Eternal rest grant unto her and my sympathy to the Dominican Sisters.
Shireen McKen, Newtown, POS