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Rector's Study
The First Fruits
 Fr.
Timothy Perkins, SSC
Vth Rector
What a great privilege it is to serve a parish in which
the glory of Easter is celebrated fully! The
administration of Holy Baptism at the Great Vigil of
Easter, the Holy Noise of bells, organ, instruments, and
voices lifted in a swelling “Alleluia,” and the
receiving the Risen Savior in the Eucharistic Feast
combine to infuse within the Christian soul the blessed
rejoicing of a citizen of heaven, an heir of eternal
life in Christ. We share this joy with all believers of
all time and in all places; but we know ourselves to be
particularly blessed by our local customs of rich
ritual, music, and ceremonial in the liturgy. Joyful
worship is a natural fruit of our Easter faith.
But it is not just Easter worship that blesses us. The
fellowship we enjoy with one another in our receptions
following Mass never fail to be occasions of
encouragement and warmth. Partaking of food and drink
and friendly conversation, often related to the
spiritual encounter we have just experienced, builds us
up as a community of faithful and reminds us that we can
rely on one another for support and prayer through all
the “changes and chances of this mortal life.” This
lively fellowship is also a fruit of our belief in
Christ’s resurrection.
Indeed, all of our life as Christians is born out of
the grave of our crucified Lord. Through his
self-sacrifice on the Holy Cross, our Lord caused his
body to be the seed, which when planted, brought forth
newness of life. This imagery is implied in the
fifteenth chapter of St. Paul’s first letter to the
Corinthians in which the apostle teaches, “Christ has
been raised from the dead, the first fruits of
those who have fallen asleep.” This verse forms part of
the Easter canticle for Morning Prayer, Pascha
nostrum. Prayerfully singing this morning song of
praise, we are reminded that because Christ is risen, we
are made alive in him.
What better way to respond to such delicious fruit is
there than to take and eat, all the while singing,
shouting, or praying our Easter Alleluia?!
Previous Issues:
February 2010
Winter 2010
Pentecost
2009
Easter 2009
Lent 2009
Winter 2009
Advent 2008
Summer 2008
Pentecost
2008
Easter 2008
Lent 2008
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
Summer 2006
June 2006
Lent 2006
Advent 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
Summer 2004
Easter 2004
Lent 2004
February 2004
Epiphany 2004
Advent 2003
Easter 2003
Lent 2003
February 2003
Epiphany 2003
October 2002
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