The Great Truth of God's Mercy in the Paschal Mystery

Since there is much suffering due to the turbulence caused by the coronavirus pandemic, you may wish to read about mystery of suffering here.
On the meaning of the cross you may wish to read Maggie Ciskanik here on Magis Center - Maggie Ciskanik, is senior consultant associated with Jesuit Fr. Robert Spitzer, President of Gonzaga University from 1998 to 2009, who is quite active on EWTN.
On the beauty of God and his creation, you may wish to read me here.
We watched yesterday the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome celebrated by the Holy Father Pope Francis here.

His quite magnificent homily can be found here:

The entire text of the homily can be found here: 

We definitely can learn much from his words on the compassion of the Risen Lord in these hard times as the coronavirus pandemic inflicts much turbulence on the hearts of people and raises the questions of doubt in God's mercy on the world as a result of so many victims both dead and sick...

Our prayers with other Christians are only a fraction of an entire globe in suffering...

The homily of Cardinal Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto at St. Michael's Basilica in the Mass of Easter this morning can be followed here.

Note: If you have time for a theologically deep reflection on the truth of the Resurrection of Christ, see this excerpt from "Introduction to Christianity" by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI/Joseph Ratzinger: here. 

Easter Sunday Mass presided over by Bishop Robert Barron in LA, the U.S.A.: here. Earlier this year , Bishop Robert Barron spoke about the contribution of the Christian philosopher René Girard regarding the meaning of the scapegoat mechanism found in most ancient societies - Robert Barron wrote: [The Crucifixion of Jesus is a classic instance of René Girard’s scapegoating theory. He held that a society, large or small, that finds itself in conflict comes together through a common act of blaming an individual or group purportedly responsible for the conflict. It is utterly consistent with the Girardian theory that Caiaphas, the leading religious figure of the time, said to his colleagues, "It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish." In any other religious context, this sort of rationalization would be validated. But in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, this stunning truth is revealed: God is not on the side of the scapegoaters, but rather on the side of the scapegoated victim.]. A more detailed examination of Girard mimetic theory can be found here.

At Holy Rosary parish in Toronto, the Easter Mass was served this morning by Msgr. Robert Nusca assisted by Fr. John Abad (here).

In the Greek Catholic Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Archbishop Yaser Ayash and Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Jules Zerey the celebration of Easter (Divine Liturgy in Arabic) on Facebook: here.

In Montreal, the Greek Melkite Catholic Eparch Most Reverend Bishop Ibrahim: spoke in Arabic (found also on Facebook): here.

In Toronto, the celebration of Easter at the Byzantine Cathedral of the Transfiguration by Msgr. Makarios Wehbi assisted by Fr. Youhanna Hanna in English and Arabic and served by volunteers and choirs - The vigil Divine Liturgy served by the renowned Homsy choir (Facebook here) and today's morning served by the Palestinian great choir (Facebook here).

In the spiritual realm. suffering and joy in the Lord seem to be associated in the lives of saints who experienced the risen Christ. These include mystics and saints whose suffering is well documented yet their joy was completed in the Risen Christ such as St. Paul the Apostle, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. John Chrysostom, St. Bernard of Clairveaux, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Gertrude the Great, St. Rita of Cascia,  St. Teresa d'Avilla, St. Thérèseof Lisieux, St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Faustina, and Pope Saint John Paul II in his teachings and example on Divine mercy.

Blessed Easter to all who celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.