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We are an Easter People and 'Alleluia' is our song" is a famous phrase of St Augustine and sums up what the Christian life is really all about. 'Alleluia' is a word we often use in the liturgy (services) of the Church at Easter and on other occasions. It is an unusual word and if we think about it, is confusing. What does it mean to us? Like the 'Amen' we use at the end of prayers, it is a word that the Church has brought with her through the centuries without translating it. It takes us back to the very beginnings of Christianity and beyond, into our Jewish roots for it is a Hebrew word meaning "Praise the Lord!" As such it occurs frequently in the Psalms as a cry of jubilation. What a thought. How many of us go around uttering "cries of jubilation", I wonder? Most of us are so worn down by the change and stress of modern life and daily living, we are not often given to cries of jubilation. Easter breaks into our Lenten observance as spring breaks into winter. We need to really let the Easter message of hope and joy break into our lives and let "Christ the Morning Star, make our darkness light", as the Deacon sings at the Easter Exsultet (Song of Praise). The prophet Isaiah said, "No longer shall the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine upon you at night; the Lord shall be your light forever, your God shall be your glory" (Isaiah 60.19). Now if that were so, we should indeed be an Easter people with "Alleluia" as our song and there would be cries of jubilation echoing around the streets of Waterlooville and Hampshire. But we know that it isn't just what we say that matters, for actions speak louder than words. St Augustine, writing in the Fourth century AD, continues, "We are praising God now, assembled as we are here in church; but when we go our various ways again, it seems as if we cease to praise God. But provided we do not cease to live a good life, we shall always be praising God. You cease to praise God only when you swerve from justice and from what is pleasing to God. If you never turn aside from the good life, your tongue may be silent but your actions will cry aloud, and God will perceive your intentions..." "Praise the Lord! Alleluia!" This, then, is the mark of our Christian community: through thick and thin, good and bad, in sorrow and in joy, in church and out and about. "Praise the Lord! Alleluia! God is good!" "We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!" May I wish you all a very happy and blessed Easter full of joy and hope. Alleluia! Your priest and friend MALCOLM FERRIER. |
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