Alleluia moments in our lives

 

EASTER VIGIL / Easter Sunday

Alleluia – BY dEACON bILL gERVAIS

April 4, 2021

 

Lec.41; Rom. 6:3-11; Mk. 16:1-7;  AND  Lec.42 Acts 10:34a, 37-43; John 20:1-18

 

Alleluia. Alleluia, Alleluia. There is no better Hebrew word we can use, then Alleluia, to signify our joy that this year we celebrate Easter.

Yes, it may only be 15 % capacity, and stripped-down liturgies, but just think how many celebrated the first Easter 2000 years ago.

As we know from the readings, it was just a handful of men and women that celebrated this event. Up to this point they had lost hope, some ran from the cross and hid, and others left the city and headed home, then they found the empty tomb, and everything changed.

Unable to contain the joy, they ran and told everyone they met the good news that Jesus is risen and soon the message Jesus is risen spread throughout

As I thought about this historic Easter alleluia moment, I was reminded of another story that began on Palm Sunday, when we first heard about a three-year-old child, Jude Leyton, who was lost in the woods in South Frontenac. By Tuesday, three days later, as OPP Constable leading the search, Scott McNamee, said, things looked bleak, but thinking about his own family would not allow him to lose hope, he had to complete the search.  His hope was not misplaced, the following day, Wednesday of this week the child was found, alive, and surprisingly healthy for having endured three and a half days lost in the bush. It was truly an Alleluia moment. And the word spread all over the region, the country and the world.

It is Alleluia moments like this that put into perspective what the first disciples of Jesus must have felt. It is a joy that could not be contained and here many centuries later, we still remember, and we still sing Alleluia, the Lord is risen.

Jesus lives. Proclaim that good news everywhere and with everyone we meet. Alleluia.