“Alleluia, Alleluia!  Let the Holy Anthem Rise!”

For many centuries, Catholics and Christians throughout the world have celebrated the joyous event of Jesus’s resurrection from the dead with songs of “alleluias and joy” on this Easter Day.

Today, Easter Sunday, in the year 2020, no one could have ever imagined COVID-19 would be responsible for the ceasing of church bells ringing and calling us to our places of worship.   Sadly, but also, fortunately, the internet and television substitute for our church gathering as places of worship. Their programs help strengthen our faith and give us hope.  However, this feeling of emptiness and loss of gathering as a faith community and worshiping in church as a church remain.  It is challenging to enter into today’s “alleluias.”

Joyce Rupp, a spiritual author, reminds us that Easter is more than a feeling moment.  It is a FAITH moment.  Hence, today if our feelings long for a traditional Easter celebration, let us replace those feelings with our faith in Jesus’ messages:  “Take courage and fear not.  It is I .  .   . I will be with you always.”

The days following Easter will continue to be difficult, I am sure, as we continue to observe “Shelter in Place”—and for how  long?  Who really knows?

Here at La Posada, it is our hope and prayer for the whole world that Jesus’ Easter message will be a source of comfort, and give us all strength and courage as we continue to await patiently the solution and an end to COVID-19.

Today, let our faith pray or sing:

“Alleluia, Alleluia!  Let the Holy Anthem Rise!”

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let the holy anthem rise,
And the choirs of heaven chant it
In the temple of the skies;
Let the mountains skip with gladness,
And the joyful valleys ring
With Hosannas in the highest
To our Savior and our King.

~ Sister Zita Telkamp, CDP
Program Director, La Posada Providencia