Easter 2009
By Most Reverend Leonard J. Olivier
The Lord is arisen! And we rejoice! Why? Because He
had died! And why did He die? God His Father asked Him to undergo death to free
us from that sin that had been leveled against us, the sin of disobedience of
our first parents. For through our first parents, we had sinned against God and
God wanted us to be free from the curse. And that curse could be wiped out only
by God Himself. So God asked His Son first to become man and be like us, be able
to undergo death. So now we are free! That is why all mankind shouts out:
"Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
The curse of sin no longer has any hold over us, no
claim on us because Jesus, the Son of God, loved us so much that He freed us
from sin and its curse. We no longer have any fear of death because God has
freed us from eternal death of sin. Death no longer has any reign over us! All
the Church, all mankind, breaks out in hymns and songs of unending joy and
celebration. Did you ever notice the atmosphere of gladness and triumph that
characterizes our Sunday Mass celebration? Every Sunday celebration of Mass is a
replay of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We cannot contain a joy that is so
real! It is the resurrection of the Risen Lord and our resurrection with Him,
because by Baptism we, too, have come up out of the waters of Baptism, cleansed,
anointed, and arisen to eternal life.
It is no wonder that the Church goes to such length
in decorating all the space that surrounds our celebration of Sunday Mass. Look
at the flowers, the beautiful colors of clothe in vestments, altar, all
furnishings! Listen to the music and the voices of singers and worshipers who
respond in the act worship. See the gracious and choreographed movements by all
the participants in the Church's liturgy. Witness the resounding voices and
dramatic actions of the celebrant, the deacon, and the readers who draw us into
the worship of the assembled community. All of them are reacting to the
wonderful deed that Jesus the Risen Savior has done in answering the request of
His Father, namely, to rise from the dead to save the world. "God so loved the
world that He gave us His only Son to save us!"
That is the message of Easter! That is why the
Church sings "Alleluia" throughout the year. Yes, we are an "Alleluia People".
Let us always rejoice and be glad. For the Lord is arisen!
