With gratitude and grace, we celebrate the story of creation, liberation, and us.

In blessing and brokenness, we restore hunger for newness, boiling from the wellsprings of our souls. Here, within wonder and surprise, we rediscover hope and recognize once more the signature of God.

From our awareness of beauty and brokenness, rivers of grace flow into our hearts to heal, purify, and bring justice to the world. Through the emergence of harmony, we behold balance, peace, and beauty flow into our hearts and across the land.

We rejoice when all members of the Earth community have a place to raise their young, a shelter from the elements, and the opportunity for a meaningful life. As we venture forth today, the words of soon-to-be-canonized St. Oscar Romero dance across our awareness and pulsate in our hearts, with the promise of a meaningful future yet to be realized on this Easter journey.

He writes: “By overcoming self, one achieves the Easter resurrection. As we prepare once again to celebrate the resurrection, we reflect on our lives and ask guidance from the universe and cosmic Christ as we make our Easter journey this day."

[Mural depicting Archbishop Oscar Romero outside the San Salvador hospital where he was killed while celebrating Mass, March 24, 1980. CNS photo]