Archbishop José H. Gomez celebrated Easter Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on April 5, telling thousands gathered that “God’s love can change any situation,” even amid wars and suffering.
During his homily, Archbishop Gomez said, “On that first Easter morning, when Jesus rolled away that stone and walked away from that tomb empty, he changed everything. That empty tomb tells us that God’s love is stronger than every hatred and violence and injustice and evil.” He added, “God’s love can change any situation. God can bring life out of death. God can bring meaning and healing out of suffering. He can take the sins and failings of our lives and turn them around.”
The archbishop emphasized the message of hope found in the Resurrection for people facing difficulties or uncertainty. “We don’t have to stay stuck in our problems,” Gomez said. “There is a way out. God will set us free. There is nothing that God won’t do for us. There is no sin he will not forgive, no weakness he will not help us overcome. No situation in our life that he won’t help us with.” He continued, “But we have to turn to God. We have to believe in Jesus. Just as those first Apostles did.”
This year saw a significant increase in people seeking entry into the Catholic Church within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; officials reported 8,598 catechumens and candidates—a 54 percent rise from last year and more than double previous years’ numbers.
At Saturday night’s Easter Vigil at the cathedral, nearly 20 individuals were baptized or completed their sacraments to fully enter into the Church community. Addressing these new members during the vigil, Archbishop Gomez said: “Every life is unique, every life has its story… Tonight your story will be joined to his story, to the beautiful history of salvation, the great story of God’s love for his people.”
The Holy Week observances included Palm Sunday celebrations where Archbishop Gomez encouraged attendees not to fear challenges: “Because Jesus Christ did not save himself, we are no longer prisoners of our past,” he said during Palm Sunday Mass on March 29.
The archbishop concluded by highlighting freedom through faith: “By his cross, Jesus sets us free so that we can truly know happiness, so that we can truly live an authentic life as a child of God.”
