AN EASTER MESSAGE FROM BISHOP ED

April 23, 2025 at 10:53 a.m.

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger and his clergy process to the altar for Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Leony Staples, left, and Merlinda Carmelino lead the Rosary before the Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Essa-Marie Luke, 3, shows off her Easter dress during Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger flicks holy water on the faithful during Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger leads the consecration of the gifts during Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Ethan Selly-Yamie, center in blue, joins the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer during Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger presides over Easter Mass on April 20 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Happy Easter!
Are you in for a surprise? Because Easter was a surprise and always is if we’re willing to take the grace that Easter brings. Nobody expected this to happen. We know that Jesus would say to his disciples throughout his ministry, ‘The Son of Man is going to be put to death and die and rise on the third day.’ And he said it again and again and again, but when it happened nobody expected it. Maybe that’s just because this is the way we tend to listen to God with our ears stuffed with our own fears, our eyes blinded by our own desires. But God always has other plans and they’re good.
God surprises us with his grace and that’s what happened on Easter Sunday. It was an explosion. Nobody expected it. And the reason we know this is true, is because of the reaction that happened so suddenly. These were people that were depressed, they were at the end of their ropes. They thought it was over. One and done. And then, as always, God breaks into their lives and surprises them. The same people that didn’t even find it in their hearts to be able to go and look at the cross on Good Friday, were jumping in the streets with joy three days later. That doesn’t happen by chance. That’s a deliberate act from God; an outburst of grace. An opening up of possibility that nobody expected and it happens to us every time we trust in the Lord and accept this message of hope that Easter brings.
Let’s open our hearts to the surprise of God’s grace in our lives, trusting that the Lord knows very well what we most need, and knows how to give it to us if all we do is let go and let God.

+Edward B. Scharfenberger
Bishop of Albany