You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11.
Alleluia. Christ is Risen.
It is good to point out that the Church’s Easter Acclamation and greeting is always in the present tense. We say that Christ is risen and not Christ has risen. Jesus is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in the tomb.
Easter abides!
Nevertheless, by now, much of the world has left Easter in the rearview mirror and moved on with the business of the grave. Most grievously this is more often than not business as usual for our world: war, personal interest over concern for others, power, prejudice, and the pursuit of some form of greatness that is defined less by Christ’s triumph over death and more like the perceived strength of crucifixion over life.
But Easter IS and remains God’s final word, God’s judgment, on this world’s ways of death. As the Psalmist sings: “You show me the path of life.” Easter is that path. There is no power or pursuit on this earth greater than the life and hope that is revealed in Easter.
That is the path, the present and abiding path, that we are called to pursue. To proclaim Easter is to embrace with hope Easter’s path of life and to become a living witness through word and deed that all manner of death in this world is being trampled down under the feet of our risen Lord’s victory over the grave.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia
