Welcome to Easter Monday

For the Secular World, the Easter Bunny has hopped, hopped, hopped right on out of our lives. Easter is over; and it’s back to our everyday existences come Monday morning. For Christians who recognize Easter as more than just a day, the Easter Season has just begun.

Easter Season begins on Easter Morning; with the Good News of our Risen Lord. It does not end with Ascension Thursday, forty days beyond Easter Sunday. The reality is that there is a period between His ascension into Heaven and the end of the Easter Season on Pentecost Sunday that the world of the Apostles might have felt very much empty. The Holy Spirit does not descend upon them for another 9 days. This time between Ascension Thrusday and Pentecost Sunday is a time of prayer, as the first Novena took place during that time.

On Easter Monday Christ had not yet taken His seat in Heaven. While the chosen were witnesses to the Good News, there were still lessons to be learned. Jesus remained close to teach just a little while longer. This was a special time.

Be it ordinary times or within certain set Holy Seasons, each Sunday is meant to be celebrated like a mini-Easter. We need not be as elaborate in our production of the Sunday Supper as we are the Easter Feast. But the day itself needs to be set apart from our world filled with noise and distractions. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to observe all the days of the Easter Season as mini-Easters? What joy there would be in the world!

While that might be a bit much for most of us, with outside obligations of work, if we could, it would be nice to spend just a few minutes each day, be it in the morning or at the end of our day, to rest quietly in the arms of our Lord. Quiet our minds, and turn up the volume of our hearts to better hear His loving whisper. For some, that quiet time alone is scary. And yet we need that time daily. For it is when the Lord best reveals Himself to us.

Have a blessed and fruitful Easter Monday!

Garlic White Cheddar Mac and Cheese Casserole
2 boxes Kraft Deluxe White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
4 oz Irish White Cheddar Cheese
1 cup Breadcrumbs
Olive Oil as needed
8 oz Diced Ham
3 tablespoons Butter
2/3 cup Milk
1 can Baby Peas

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. As the water comes to a boil, heat oven to 425-degrees. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray, set aside.

Empty macaroni into boiling water and let cook 10 minutes. When macaroni has cooked through, drain without rinsing and set aside.

As the water comes to a boil and the macaroni cooks, grate the Irish Cheddar into a bowl. Add breadcrumbs, toss together and set aside.

While the pasta drains add a little olive oil to the cooking pan, heat over medium-high heat. Add diced ham to the and fry until just beginning to brown. Remove from heat.

Return macaroni to pan, remove from heat. Empty cheese packages over pasta. Add butter and milk, stir to blend. Sprinkle with garlic-herb packets. Stir well to coat everything in the cheese and spice blend.

Transfer the Mac and Cheese to the prepared casserole dish. Scatter peas over the casserole, then gently fold peas into the pasta. Spread out smoothly. Sprinkle the Irish Cheddar-Breadcrumb mixture over the top of the casserole. Place in the heated oven to bake for about 15 minutes or until casserole is heated through and the top is a golden color. Delicious served alongside a crisp salad.

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This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.