In these days of Easter our voices are continually raised in praise. God has redeemed and comforted his people. He has made us strong. He has restored us, given us a dignity far higher than that of our first parents, and we are eager to show we understand our noble rank by our continual praise of Our Heavenly Father and Our Risen Lord. We glorify him as our redeemer, we glorify him for all his works, in the new creation, the work of grace which we recognise in ourselves with humble gratitude. Lastly, we recognise his work in the Church: the Holy Spirit has been evident in these last weeks in which we bade farewell to Pope Francis and were so rapidly granted a new Pope. We pray for Pope Leo today as he inaugurates his petrine ministry.
The chants of the Mass enable us, voice and heart and Spirit, to express and deepen our joy in God our Saviour. The entry chant (Psalm 97:1,2) called us to proclaim to the ends of the earth that the Lord God has set his people free. We were like the people of Israel in Egypt: Moses was sent to demand that they be allowed to go a three days journey into the desert to offer sacrifice to God. Worship of their God was the hallmark of their freedom.
The chants following the readings (Ps 117:16, Rom 6:9) proclaim the resurrection of Jesus by the glory of the Father. The innocent One could not be held by the bonds of death. The mortal body of the Son of God, the Second person of the Blessed Trinity, remained the temple of God even after his human soul had descended to the realm of the dead. Not only was he free among the dead, he was also their Leader to Life. The Living God exalted him to indestructible life, and in raising the Son he raises all who have faith: we can all say “the right hand of the Lord has raised me up.
The offertory chant (Ps 65:1,2,16) invites us to joyful witness to the work of grace in our souls. Jesus has greeted each of us as he did the disciples on the first Easter Day: Peace be with you. This peace if the perfection of joy, which is a tranquil possession. We know that as repentant sinners we are redeemed and assured of the renewed innocence of our baptismal grace. We give thanks to God for his gifts which enable us to turn away from self-absorption and give thanks to him for his great gory. This is our dignity. This is our glory.
Finally, the communion verse (Jn 15:5) reminds us that through the Eucharist we are each of us grafted into the true vine, and live and bear fruit through our union with our risen Lord. With our eyes set on him in praise, we are being transformed into his likeness, so that we may fulfill his commandment of love to the glory of God the Father.