Alleluia, Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!

We have made it, once again, my friends, to this great Feast of the Resurrection. Remembering, once again, in the words of Pope John Paul II, that “we are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.”

For me, a big part of being a follower of Jesus means letting the story of the resurrection shape who I am.

But what does that mean? What does that look like?  

I think the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu have always given me a good place to start:

Goodness is stronger than evil.

Love is stronger than hate.
Light is stronger than darkness.

Life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours through Him who loved us.

This is an amazing statement that seems absolutely impossible. There is so much evil, so much hate, so much darkness, and so much death (and suffering, and intolerance and apathy…) in our world, an overwhelming, frightening amount. What could be stronger?

Well, the story of the resurrection teaches us that these things do not have the final word.

The Easter story teaches us that impossible things, like resurrection, like new life, like freedom, like love, like forgiveness, like reconciliation, like growth, like redemption….seemingly impossible things, might just be possible through the love and grace of God.

So, my friends, join me, once again. Claim boldly our identity as Easter people. Yes, there is still evil and hate and darkness and death and so much else that is wrong in our world, but there is also goodness, love, light and life, and it is stronger yet. Let us live as Easter people. Let alleluia be our song.

Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

CG+