The day to 'rejoice and be glad' is now

April 16, 2006 -- Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. What religious hymns have helped to shape your faith? 2. How does God give you life? Today? 3. What is the connection between Easter and Creation/Pentecost?

The first two stanzas of one of our rich liturgical hymns are the following: "On this day, the first of days, / God the Father's name we praise; / Who, creation's Lord and spring, / Did the world from darkness bring. // On this day the eternal Son / Over death his triumph won; / On this day the Spirit came / With his gifts of living flame."

E a s t e r
• Everyday People, Everyday Faith articles
• Other Easter articles

The lyrics are rich because they give us insight into the mystery of the Trinity as well as articulate the mysteries of our faith. We sing here of God's creative design, of Jesus' resurrection, and of the great Pentecost event by which we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. As we celebrate the Easter mystery today we do well to consider its context: Creation and Pentecost.

God's plan is clear and direct: life! Creation initiates that gift as the world is called into being. But Jesus was sent to bring us to the fullness of life (John 10:10). In the reading from the "Acts of the Apostles," we hear how Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Though He was put to death, He was raised up and then commissioned others to continue His life-giving work. Behind all this activity is our Creator God, the One who is the source of all life as well as the One who sustains it and completes its growth.

Indeed, we do well to respond: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad."

God's plan took on another dimension with the Pentecost event. Because Jesus was no longer walking the earth and had ascended to His Father, a new source of wisdom and power was given to the believing community: the Holy Spirit. And the work of the Holy Spirit? Life! The Spirit of the Father and Son would continue to transform the minds and hearts of individuals as well as societies. With the gift of "a living flame," the Holy Spirit brought about a spiritual revolution. A new heaven and a new earth was being formed as it is today.

Between Creation and Pentecost, our hymn records, is the claim: "On this day the eternal Son / Over death his triumph won." Here is the heart of Easter. Death has been conquered; the power of sin has been broken; Good Friday yields to Easter Sunday. Again we cry out: Alleluia! Again we exclaim: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad."

If our faith is deep, "this day" is now. God is creating us now; Jesus is conquering death now; the Spirit is being sent now. If we are open and receptive to the "nowness" of God's triune activity, all will be new.

Yet, like Simon Peter and the other disciple of today's Gospel, something is awry. "For they did not yet understand the Scripture that He had to rise from the dead." Our understanding is limited and often so secular. We don't understand that "on this day" God is doing great things, things like creating, redeeming, and sanctifying us. So, God willing, next Easter we will sing our hymns again and attempt to comprehend the mysteries that surround and sustain us.

Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, comments on the power of the resurrection of Jesus: "God will have the last word in our lives as indeed God had the first, and it is the same word: 'Let there be life!'" And that word is spoken to us this Easter, indeed, at every moment of our life - "Let there be life!" Again, our response is clear: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad."

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)