Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of The Lord. John 20, 1-9

By His resurrection, Jesus conquered death. Let us rejoice!

It has become customary to reward personalities with something after a performance. Most often with applause, a hearty chant, a bouquet, a word of appreciation and praise, a handshake and a sincere congratulation, a hug or a kiss when we have a closer emotional or family relationship with them. A letter or telegram when we are physically distant from each other. In addition, we take a photograph, audio recordings, and, nowadays, the inseparable video recording as a souvenir.
Today the Church celebrates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We believe that this was the greatest miracle of Jesus Christ. We commemorate the Resurrection event every Sunday, especially by attending Holy Mass. Apart from Advent and Lent, we express the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus with the word “alleluia.” It is a Hebrew word that describes the joyful hymn of the Church. It means a call for the believer to rejoice and make it appropriately known to himself and others. The Church has taken this word from the Jewish worship and does not translate it, but we use it as an exclamation to glorify God. According to tradition, the people of God sang “hallelujah – hallelujah” at the Old Testament liturgy. After the temple was built and temple music and singing were organized, festive hallelujah psalms were sung on days of rejoicing and significant feasts. Later in association with Jesus, the exclamation “Hosanna -in Hebrew shi’anna” – save, O God.

In the psalm before the Gospel, we sang: “Christ, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast in the Lord.” (cf. 1 Cor. 5:7b-8a), and before and after these words, we again alleluia.

The birth of the Lord Jesus is announced by the angel of the Lord with the words, “We bring you good tidings of great joy, which will belong to all people.” (Lk 2:10). At the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, two men in shining garments say to Mary Magdalene, John, and Mary of James, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He rises from the dead” (Luke 24:5-6).
In the same way, in both cases, people are first penetrated by fear. When it passes, different reactions follow. Shepherds rush to the manager in Bethlehem. And on Sunday morning, when the women tell the apostles what they have heard and seen, John calls himself in the Gospel another disciple “whom Jesus loved so much” (Jn. 20:2). Together with Peter, they rush to the tomb where the dead Jesus was buried on Friday by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. What did they feel in their hearts? John was younger; he overtook Peter, “stooped down and saw the sheets laid there; but he did not enter in. Then Simon Peter also came, following him, and went into the tomb” (Jn. 20:5-6). It cannot be said that they rejoiced. They do not sing for joy even after going back to the apostles and telling what they had seen: “the sheets laid down and the scarf that Jesus wore on his head. Only it was not by the sheets but was rolled up in another place” (Jn 20:6-7). There is a lively desire among the apostles to know what happened to the Master. They did not see the Risen One or the dead body, only the folded sails. John writes of himself: “saw and believed.” (Jn. 20:9). The sales in the tomb are a sign to John, not evidence. This sign is sufficient for both Peter and John to receive the grace of faith in Jesus’ resurrection.

It would seem that “alleluia” loses its quality during the year. For us, it is not just a word, and therefore it is not true that we sing it with our mouths only. “Alleluia” is the reality of our faith in the Risen Christ, and each time we say the word, we are reminded again and again of our gratitude to God for the gift of redemption, we are strengthened in our love and growth in grace, and we are equally strengthened in the hope of our resurrection. It is true that many Christians do not understand the word “alleluia” or have not yet paid attention to it. It would be wrong to think that it is enough to pay attention to what the word “alleluia” expresses only at Easter time. St. Paul not only advises and encourages the Colossians but also us: “Brethren if you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above.” (Col. 3:1-2). Especially in the celebration of Holy Mass, where the “Alleluia” is most often heard, we can fix our spiritual gaze on what we have gained through Christ’s Resurrection. Many times we, too, hear and notice the joy of our brothers and sisters as they experience the Mass. The joy of the encounter at Mass takes work and preparation for oneself. The very fact that it is Sunday, one does not go to work, the school dedication of Sunday to the soul has a joyful tinge, charms one, often gives back the strength, the desire, and the courage to fulfill one’s duties. Many feel that if they did not attend the whole Mass on Sunday, Sunday would not be Sunday for them. How many old and sick people are sad that they cannot go to Mass on Sunday!

The “Alleluia” experienced in the church brings a joyful echo to everyday life to all that we share. We need to work on our faith accordingly. True joy and peace are not gained by waiting with folded hands. The women rush to the apostles on Sunday morning. Peter and John likewise hasten to the tomb. To live for God, live with God, and live in God- the only thing that fills a man with unadulterated joy. True joy is experienced in our ease, carefree life, and communion with God in our difficulties crossing illnesses…

Those who have understood the Easter “Alleluia” experience joy throughout the year, even when the word is not used in the liturgy. The Resurrection of Christ satisfies the soul and quenches the thirst at least as much as bread and water do the body. How much more joy does the soul feel when we live in such a way as to merit eternal life with the risen Jesus one day. What can give us more fun than the thought that all that can please on earth will please in heaven? All to the more incredible honor and glory of God. Whoever desires to live with the Risen One will make known to him the true inner joy already on earth. Such a one can rejoice in true happiness, which can bear even the seal of the consequences of original sin. This is because we must not forget on earth that the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ are one. One cannot exist without the other. Once we want to be raised with Christ to glory, we are already on earth to receive the cross of life. It is only after the blossoming of the flower that we can look for fruit on the tree. The flower is suffering and death; the resurrection is the fruit. There is no fruit without flowers. We Christians today celebrate the resurrection of Christ and do not forget Christ’s suffering and death. For us, every Holy Mass is the bloodless sacrifice of Golgotha. At the Mass of the Elevation, we confess, “Your death, O Lord, we proclaim, and your resurrection we proclaim until you come in glory.” Or: “Savior of the world, save us, for you have redeemed us by your cross and resurrection.” We join in a joyful “Alleluia” already on earth when we want to share eternal joy.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, when he goes into the Roman arena, goes with the thought of being as soon as possible with the One who laid down His life for him.
When he was about to die, St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, wanted to see the starry sky once more, as he did in the evening before going to sleep. He no longer had the strength to come to the window. One must first die to see the true heaven. And with the words “My God,” he died.
Today we should strengthen ourselves with the Easter “alleluia” to live in this spirit of the word for all eternity. The faith of Peter and John is a picture of our situation. Neither is our faith founded on miracles, nor the evidence of reasoning, but on willing consent to the signs that the Lord God sends us so often in our lives, most often through people.

Let us remember at today’s Mass those to whom we have sent the Easter greeting and those who have sent the greeting to us, and let us join the word “alleluia” with all that it means in connection with the Risen One. Let us pray for them and ourselves so that one day when we die, we may leave behind us the victory of life, and for our example, the model of life, we may joyfully wish the light eternal or say thanks for all.