EasterAlleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! It is the source of our joy and of our hope that the Crucified Redeemer lives. The Easter liturgy marks the first day of a new creation, which extends into a season of fifty days of joyful reflection on the resurrection of Jesus. The Sunday Gospel readings give a full place to the events associated with the resurrection, recording the appearances of the risen Lord or the 'I am' sayings from St John understood as coming from the lips of the Lord who is already, in some sense, conqueror of death and now speaks to us from beyond the grave. The miracle of the resurrection lies not only in the triumph of Jesus over death, but also in the experience of the christian community, whose members were dead and have risen with Christ in baptism. Pentecost Sunday closes the season of Easter as we reflect on the gift of the Spirit, who energises and sustains our Easter faith. Love's redeeming work is done;
Fought the fight the battle won;
Lo, our Sun's eclipse is o'er!
Lo he sets in blood no more! Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
Death in vain forbids him rise;
Christ has conquered paradise. Lives again our glorious king;
Where O death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, he all doth save;
Where thy victory, O grave? Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exulted head,
Made like him, like him we rise;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!
Praise to thee by both be given:
Thee we greet triumphant now;
Hail the Resurrection, thou! Charles Wesley 1707–1788
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