Easter is the feast of feasts, the greatest celebration of the liturgical year—the unalloyed joy and gladness of all Christians. This Sunday marks the glorious triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and death. After forty days of Lenten observance and six Sundays of preparation, the Church now rejoices in the Risen Lord. The tomb is empty. Christ is Risen—He is Risen indeed!

On this sacred day, we celebrate the Resurrection of our loving Savior, who has conquered the grave and opened the gates of Heaven to all who believe in Him. The Paschal Mystery reaches its fulfillment as the Crucified Christ is gloriously raised, confirming the promise of eternal life and victory over death. This is the cornerstone of our faith: that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again for our salvation (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:14–20).

Through the Resurrection, Christians not only rejoice in Christ’s victory but also anticipate the resurrection of their own glorified bodies at His Second Coming. We proclaim with unwavering faith that sin and death no longer have the final word. The ancient Christian greeting, “He is Risen!” and the joyous response, “He is Risen indeed!” resound throughout the world today.

“Haec dies quam fecit Dominus”: This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Alleluia. As the Church sings the victorious hymn of the Exsultet during the Easter Vigil, we join in exalting our mighty King: “Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her… Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of His glory.”

Every Sunday is a celebration of this day. Each year, the Easters of our earthly pilgrimage lead us closer to the eternal Easter, when Christ will come again in glory to bring us home.

Quote:
“Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King… Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of His glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.”

Let us live as Easter people: redeemed, renewed, and rejoicing in the presence of our risen Savior.

Easter Meditation: Rejoicing in the Risen Christ

Halleluia! All glory, praise, and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!
You have risen from the grave, You have conquered sin and death, You have opened the gates to Heaven!
Halleluia! All praise and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!

My Lord, hope is restored, and joy and excitement are instilled in many hearts as You quietly, gently, and gloriously rise from the dead and bring forth new life for this fallen world. Sweet Jesus, give me the eyes of faith that I may see and believe in Your Resurrection. Help me to know the effects of Your triumph in my life. As I come to know You, my resurrected Lord, help me to entrust to You all that I am and all that I hope to be. Help me to trust in the abundant Mercy that flows from Your resurrected soul.

Dear Lord, help me to enter deeply into the mystery of Easter during this eight-day celebration of the Octave of Easter. I pray that every day of this Octave will be a day of deepening trust and union with You in the glory of Your Resurrection.

Lord of Mercy, as our Church prepares for the glorious celebration of Mercy, poured out in a special way on the eighth day of this Octave on Divine Mercy Sunday, help me to open my heart more deeply than ever before to the abundance of grace and mercy You wish to bestow. Pour forth Your Mercy into my life and into the lives of all Your children. I offer You my family, friends, community, and the entire world. I pray for the faithful, the sinner, the lost and confused, the clergy, our Holy Father, and all of Your precious children. May we all anticipate, with eager hope, the abundance of grace You wish to dispense.

My Resurrected Jesus of Mercy, I trust in You. Jesus, I trust in You. Jesus, I trust in You!

Halleluia! All glory, praise and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!
You have risen from the grave, You have conquered sin and death, You have opened the gates to Heaven!
Halleluia! All praise and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!

PRAYER: My resurrected Lord, my hope is in You! Alleluia—you are alive, and You have conquered all sin, all death, and all evil. You bring new life to all who turn to You. My Jesus, I turn to You and abandon myself to Your death so that I may rise with You in Your Resurrection.

Breathe into me this gift of new life and allow me to begin anew. The glory to which You have called me is beyond what I can imagine, but I trust in Your promise. Fill me with the fire of faith, the joy of the Resurrection, and the desire to follow You more closely each day.

May I live as a child of the Resurrection and a witness to Your enduring love.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen. 🙏

EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD | APRIL 20, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/easter-sunday-of-the-resurrection-of-the-lord/

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