Easter: A Song and Prayer of Alleluia Joy

By Paul Ashton, Psy.D., D.Min.
Consultant to the VIRTUS® Programs

Today we need to encounter Him; that we find Him and He find us. Brethren, the “Happy Easter” I wish you is that today an Angel rolls away our stone and we allow ourselves to encounter Him. May it be thus.

—Pope Francis 

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Oh Jesus, you kept your promise! You have risen as you said. You fill my heart with great joy this Easter! Your suffering was for me and for all of us; I am eternally grateful; my heart sings for joy. We have waited for this glorious day for a long time and now we celebrate what you promised. Spring is here, and children everywhere search for colourful Easter eggs, delight in chocolate bunnies, and marshmallow chicks. May we take delight in the joys and innocence of children and see things more clearly through their eyes bright with hope. Give us the courage to sing their songs, enjoy their treats and play their games so we are ever mindful that we are all God’s children.

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

With great joy we all sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! You have done so much for us dear Jesus and shed your blood, which has redeemed us forever. There is no greater gift! You suffered for love of us, and we sing your praise in every good deed we do in your holy name. Many suffer in our world from hunger, loneliness, despair, depression, anxiety, joblessness, humiliation, bullying, abuse, neglect and imprisonment. Please make us ever mindful of lost and abandoned souls who desperately need our presence. We are often afraid of not knowing what to do or say or by being hurt when we reach out to others. Give us the courage we need to stand up, move forward and reach out to those who need us. Protect us from our own selfishness and pride and instill in us the desire to love you more by loving others better.  

But the pain which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation hath procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He's king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

We are ever mindful, Lord Jesus, of the pain and suffering you underwent for us to provide the great gift of salvation. We honor the crucifix with loving, humble pride knowing all that it means and the power it coveys. We are saddened that you had to endure all of this, but the joy of the resurrection floods our hearts and minds with a peaceful joy that erases the pain. In our own lives we face the struggles of pain, sadness and challenges that are often hard to bear. We take courage from you, dear Jesus, who calls us forth from the pain to peace, clarity and understanding. When the road gets difficult and our hearts and minds are far from Easter, help us remember this happy day and all it means, and the power it has to erase our deepest fears.

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia! 

On Good Friday we prayed: “We worship you Lord, we venerate your cross and we praise your resurrection. Through the cross you brought joy to the world.” We echo those powerful words today in our prayer of thanksgiving to you, dear Jesus. We thank God for his great gift of love to us, and we praise the Holy Spirit who vividly lives in each of us. Easter is filled with the joy and the promise of the days to come, and we ask your blessing that we might never forget the joy we experience this Easter season. May we link each and every Sunday to Easter Sunday so our reach to joy will be short and ever present—most especially in the dark times. We ask You to fill us with your light, so we may bring Your message of Easter joy to each person we encounter, most especially the vulnerable. May we search them out earnestly in all the places we live and work, and may our light be a beacon to them of your heavenly peace.

All of this we sing and pray in your holy name, which brings joy to the world.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Amen.

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