CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION

EASTER SUNDAY - Mark  16:1-8

Easter is the feast of feasts. From the beginning of the People of Israel, it was the feast of deliverance. For Christians, Easter is the feast of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the feast in which we celebrate the paschal mystery: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the feast of the victory of love over hatred and of life over death. Singing a victory hymn, St. Paul wrote:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, 

and the power of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God, 

who gives us the victory 

through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15,55-57)

After Saturday evening, which is already the first day of the week, that is the day of the Lord, we have the Easter Vigil in which we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ in four celebratory moments: a) the celebration of the light with the paschal proclamation; b) remembering the history of salvation through the reading of the Word of God; c) baptism and the renewal of baptismal promises; d) The Lord's Supper.

1. Fire and light are signs that are easy to understand in all cultures. Recognised as signs of the Spirit, of the power and glory of God. Fire is also a sign of love that purifies and transforms. And light speaks to us of truth and good. Christ is proclaimed as the Light, being at the same time proclaimed as Yesterday and Today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Center of the Universe, and from him, everything exists and gets its meaning.
2. The Scriptures speak of Christ and lead us to encounter Christ. The whole history of salvation is turned towards Christ, and Christ is the culmination of this story. We remember the past to understand the present and learn how God manifests his presence and his saving action in the history of humankind. It is always the word of God that gives meaning to our lives and our walking to the life of fullness in Christ. So we listen to the Word.
3. At baptism we were grafted onto Christ, making with him the experience of death and resurrection. In baptism, we are born again by the power of the Spirit that makes us one with Christ, making us children of God, called to the same glory of Christ. So we remember baptism and renew our baptismal promises.
4. Finally, we celebrate the Lord's Supper, following his example and obeying his commandment. With him, we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving (Eucharist) and we sit at his table to be fed with the bread of heaven, his body and his blood.

It is with great joy that we sing alleluia.

Recognising God’s merciful love, 

we sing his praises and his power to save.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

  for his love has no end.

Let the sons of Israel say:

  ‘His love has no end.’

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;

  his right hand raised me up.

I shall not die, I shall live

  and recount his deeds.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The stone which the builders rejected

  has become the corner stone.

This is the work of the Lord,

  a marvel in our eyes.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (Ps  118:1-2,16-17,22-23)

At Lubengele Parish, the newly baptized sing in thanksgiving to the Lord. To him we sing: Amen! Alleluia!

St. John Damascene composed The Canon of Pascha, sung here with different melodies.

The day of Resurrection, 

let us be radiant, O peoples! 

Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha; 

for Christ God has brought us 

from death to life, 

and from earth to heaven, 

as we sing the triumphal song. 

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord!

Jesus, having risen from the tomb as he foretold, 

has given us eternal life and his great mercy.

 - St. John Damascene