Easter Liturgy – Tuesday 2 April

On the first day after the Easter break the whole school community came together in Period 1 to celebrate the Resurrection. As we reflected in the liturgy – 

On Christmas, we celebrate the Incarnation—God becoming human – with Jesus’s birth. 

During Lent, we recall the cross—Jesus’s crucifixion and death.

At Easter, we rejoice in the empty tomb—Jesus’s resurrection. Easter is the day Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified. The empty tomb means that Jesus’s words rang true. He fulfilled the promises of Scripture and conquered sin and death. Had Jesus not risen from the dead, the world would have seen Him as just a prophet or teacher instead of who he is: the Son of God, the Messiah. 

Jesus overcoming death is the reason we know His name today. It’s the foundation of all Christianity. With His death and resurrection, Jesus opened heaven to all of us. Because of Easter, we know that no matter what sufferings we experience or what sins we struggle with, God is always with us. Easter is everything in our faith. 

During the liturgy we read the readings from Easter Sunday – First Reading – Acts 10:34,37-43, Second reading – Colossians 3:1-4, and the Gospel Reading – John 20:1-9. Reflecting on the readings we particularly took note of what Pope Francis has said about Easter. Pope Francis highlights the importance of ‘walking away from the tomb.’ Once found, faith must be lived. As Saint Peter said, ‘we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people.’ Easter is, in a sense, the starting point of our Christian responsibilities. We must, therefore, be open to action and change. We cannot become stuck in our ways, crippled by doubt, despair or habit.

The annual celebration of Easter reminds us that what we celebrate is present here and now. Ours is a living faith. As the Pope adds, ‘faith is not an album of past memories; Jesus is not outdated. He is alive here and now.’ Easter is a celebration of the mystery that Jesus is present. He is here, in both the needy of the world and through the actions of His followers. We must be open to the power of the risen Christ each day. Jesus’ life must become a model for us of self-giving and self-sacrifice. May this Easter season bring us joy and hope as we rise with Christ in the newness of life.

Julie Monk

Religious Education Coordinator