Even though we may be done with ‘Easter’ by now in our homes, we’re still celebrating Easter in Church! The flowers have been renewed, the Alleluias still sound strong, the Easter Baptismal water still flows! We still have another 4 weeks of celebrating until we return to Ordinary time, with a couple other liturgical feasts thrown in. This long period of celebration shows to us the importance of what this entire Easter feast means to us. Without Easter, and the upcoming Feast of Pentecost, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Christ would have just been a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem. Only through His ministry, Passion, Death and Resurrection, and sending of the Holy Spirit, are we in this Church right now. Alleluia! He is Risen!
The 4th Sunday of Easter is often referred to as ‘Good Shepherd’ Sunday as we always have a Gospel reading referencing the ‘good shepherd’. ‘My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’ Our music leads us to these teachings, albeit in perhaps a much less direct way than other weekends. “Worthy is the Lamb” refers to the image of Christ as the Lamb of God. He has laid down His life like a lamb at slaughter, but has become our Shepherd through His Resurrection and conquering of death. Through this, “we’ve become a people of praise”. Our second Communion song is based on Psalm 23, one of the most beloved of psalms and its images of a shepherd guiding us. “God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want.” Once again, we begin and end our liturgies with strong Easter hymns proclaiming His Resurrection! Let us sing out: Alleluia! He is Risen!