People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: He IS Risen! ~ Easter Day '20 Yr A

For Sunday, Easter Day, Readings: Acts 10:34-43; Ps 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Mt 28-1-10

...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power...he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [Acts 10:38]

On this day the LORD has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. [Psalm 118:24]

Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is...Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth... [Colossians 3:1a, 2a]

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. [Matthew 28:5-6a]

EASTER is here! Hallelujah!! Christ is Risen!!! Wherever you are on this planet whether bursting into Spring, slipping into Autumn, or somewhere in between, today our Salvation is assured, again and still, through our faith in this Risen Lord of All. Yet it will likely be the quietest Easter in living memory for many of us.

Daily life in the time of pandemic upends the usual, the regular, and even the irregular. Now that we are to experience a holiday/Holy Day apart from each other and our usual expressions of extra-glorious festival worship services, it will be unusual to say the least. There will likely be fewer colorful baskets of treats, Easter egg hunts will be more singular than communal, and what about Easter dinner? Even for those for whom Easter isn’t “all that” spiritually, it will seem less celebratory than before.

This year draws me again to the words of Thomas Merton in his book The Sign of Jonas, "The grace of Easter is a great silence, an immense tranquility and a clean taste in your soul. It is the taste of heaven...a discovery of order above all order...a wine without intoxication, a joy that has no poison in it. Life without death..." What will you miss this Easter? What might you discover about Easter and the gifts it holds if we decide to accept.

There are four Gospel accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This year we hear from Matthew who tells us there was an angel whose appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. He spoke to the women who then left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy... and Jesus met them along their way.

If you were asked, what does Easter mean to you, how would you describe it? If you were asked to tell the Gospel story, which of the four is closest to your memory? Listening to or reading different accounts of the same event can give us a fresh perspective and a new experience of the moment.

Take some time this Easter season and read the Gospel accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Reflect on what surprises you and what questions arise. Notice the similarities and differences. Wonder, and try to decide, if one account speaks to you more than another and why? Or perhaps you'll mix and match the Gospel writers' accounts to arrive at your own version, visualizing yourself in the time and place. Whatever you do, ask yourself: So what? What does it all mean for my life today, tomorrow, and beyond? What will I do - or stop doing - as a result of reflecting on Christ's Death and Resurrection?

Merton also says, in He is Risen, “Christ is the Lord of a history that moves. He not only holds the beginning and the end in his hands, but he is in history with us, walking ahead of us to where we are going…True encounter with Christ liberates something in us, a power that we did not know we had, a hope, a capacity for life, resilience, an ability to bounce back when we thought we were completely defeated, a capacity to grow and change, a power of creative transformation.” How important are these words in these days?

Move on from mourning the loss of a glorious church service with all the literal bells and whistles and choirs reaching the heights of musical expression. Let’s seek that clean taste in our souls, that fresh joy, that creative transformation. I want to discover a bit of the great silence within, dust off and resurrect my faith, and meet and be liberated by Christ beyond the tomb. While I remember that the resurrection of Easter requires the Cross of Good Friday, with Christ moving with us and before us, our path, though not easy, will surely lead us into the eternal Easter of Salvation and life everlasting. Choirs of angels await… And while you’re at it, don’t forget to be in touch with those for whom Church is always distant and unattainable, who are more isolated than ever. A phone call, a note, a mail-ordered Easter basket will go a long way to keeping Christ present in our absence…a little taste of heaven goes a long way. He IS Risen! Hallelujah!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Christ, Risen! On this Day the Lord has acted! We will rejoice and be glad in it. In the midst of the darkness and fear in this world, let us revel in the Divine Light of Your Glorious Resurrection.

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!

Response: Jesus is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

~ O Christ, Risen! Especially in these uncertain times, grant ever increasing amounts of prudence, integrity of purpose, compassion, and mercy, to the political leaders of this Earth, this Nation, and this Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!