Alleluia Christ is Risen

So, it’s that time of year again.

Each year even with the preparation of the Lenten season, Easter sneaks up on me just like Christmas. As I am sure this is true all over town. Churches are making preparations to celebrate the holiest day in the church year. That day in our tradition is called the The Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a long way of saying Easter.

There are hymns and songs that are being practiced, eggs to be dyed, sermons to be prepared, hams to be baked, new outfits to be readied, and getting the church to look its best. All this in preparation for Easter, when we celebrate the victory of Christ over the grave.

In all this preparation, I am drawn each year to one of the oldest Easter sermons in Christendom. Yes, I do read sermons in my spare time. St. John Chrysostom’s “Easter Sermon” is one of the earliest recorded Easter sermons and is still preached each Easter from pulpits and altars in both the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity. In fact it is required in the Eastern Orthodox branch. I am including an excerpt for you here.

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?

Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Hell took a body, and discovered God.

It took earth, and encountered Heaven.

It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?

O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;

for Christ having risen from the dead,

is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen! All the preparations of Easter aren’t for the joy of it but in celebration for the victory of a Christ that gave up everything to encounter death just as we do and to vanquish it. And in vanquishing death unto Himself, He has vanquished death for us as well. Our eyes may close in death but if we believe in this risen Savior we are raised in that same moment to new life eternal.

We say in the burial rite of our denomination that even at the grave our shout is Alleluia Alleluia. Why? Because the Easter greeting is Alleluia Christ is Risen from the Grave Alleluia. And because of the work of Easter we will close our eyes and rise from the grave eternally as well. My prayer for us all is that this Easter we remember in all the busyness of this world that no matter what Christ claimed for you and I the victory of the ages.

So, Alleluia, Alleluia Christ is Risen from the dead. Thanks be to God. Alleluia Alleluia. And all God’s people say, Amen.

May Christ rise up in our hearts anew this Easter. Happy and Blessed Easter, beloved community.

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Editor’s note: Jamie Crews is with the Episcopal Church of Pea Ridge.