Praise the Lord

Have you noticed how we struggle with ‘Easter’ language? What do you call the day before Easter Sunday (it’s Holy Saturday. Easter Saturday is the next Saturday and the end of Easter week)? Do you wish people a ‘Happy Easter’ (yes, you can)?

Alleluia, is a transliteration of the Hebrew word Halleluya meaning ‘Praise Yah (‘The Lord’). In the First Testament it is found in the Psalms, and in the Second Testament only in the Book of Revelation. For Christians, alleluia, has become an exclamation of joy in the Lord, an acclamation of our faith in the Risen One.

Alleluias are distinctly absent from the liturgy during Lent. They return magnificently at the Easter Vigil. The darkness is washed away by the light of Christ expressed so beautifully in the Paschal candle as it passes into the darkened church, while the flame is passed from person to person. The Gospel acclamation is sung with evident joy and enthusiasm. Signs and symbols imbedded in our culture and life burst forth in alleluias, making sense of who we are and what we are called to be. We have arrived at the intersection between our human lives and the divine.

Easter is not over, of course. The season of Easter lasts for 6 weeks. During these weeks the lectionary reiterates the central thesis of the Gospel accounts: the Lord has risen. His presence is felt and understood by the disciples. They are convinced by word and by action. They see him, touch him and hear him.

This week’s Gospel follows on immediately after the story of the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:35 – 48). The disciples return to Jerusalem and having begun to explain what had occurred, Jesus again appears. He shows himself to all the disciples and invites them to touch him. Jesus asks them for food and they give him grilled fish. The disciples are told that they too are witnesses to the resurrection.

Luke wants to it be abundantly clear that this Risen Jesus, is also the same person as the Jesus they knew, he wants us to know with absolute certainty that what he writes is what is witnessed by the disciples. He is truly risen. But Luke also ensures that we too can become witnesses, if we model our lives on those of the disciples. We must constantly listen to the scriptures, we must participate in the breaking of bread (Eucharist), we must see him alive and present in one another (service).

May your Easter continue be joyful! Alleluia!