I don’t usually do this, but it’s Easter Sunday morning, and I feel like singing! We began our Mass this morning with a joyful song of praise, rejoicing in the Lord’s resurrection. After a long absence, alleluia once again rings out in our churches. But what I would like to sing right now is the Gregorian chant introit, the entrance song, for Easter Sunday. Gregorian Chant is the official music of the Roman Catholic Church. And, until the fathers of the Second Vatican Council, in the early 1960s, permitted the use of other forms of music, Gregorian Chant was virtually the only kind of music in the Catholic Church. I mention this, not to criticize other forms of sacred music (indeed, I’m glad that we have such a variety), but to emphasize the fact that, from about the year 800 when this chant was first composed until the middle of the 20th century, this was how millions of Catholics all over the world and all throughout history began their worship on Easter Sunday morning.
As you listen to this chant, I think the first thing you’ll notice is how different it sounds from what we normally sing at Easter. It’s very subdued—almost mournful in tone—and seemingly lacks the joy and vitality of our more modern Easter hymns and songs (and by "modern" I am including even the old hymns composed in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries—even they are modern in comparison to the ninth century!). But I think the slow and peaceful sound of the music reflects what the women must have felt in the quiet early morning when they arrived in the garden to find the empty tomb. So sit back, close your eyes if you wish, and listen.
The words of this chant are from Psalm 139. "I am risen, and I am always with you, alleluia; you have placed your hand upon me, alleluia; your wisdom has been shown to be most wonderful, alleluia, alleluia. O Lord, you have searched me and known me; you know when I sit down and when I rise up." These words, in their original context, have nothing to do with the Messiah and his death and resurrection. But the Church has applied a spiritual meaning to the text, so that now they signify the abiding presence of Christ because he rose from the dead. Christ’s resurrection is a true historical event which occurred nearly 2000 years ago in Palestine; but this chant reminds us that it is so much more than that. The risen Christ is a present reality. "I am risen, and I am always with you." The music reminds us that Christ is with us, not only at the exciting moments of life—the high points and low points of intense joy or sorrow—but he is with us in the daily duties of our lives, marked by average, ordinary events even perhaps by a degree of dullness. He remains with us if we remain with him, faithful to his commands and the teachings of the Church he established, turning from sin, practicing virtue and charity. He places his hand upon us, and guides us with his wisdom. He knows when we sit down and when we rise up. Jesus told his disciples after he rose from the dead, "behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." He said this precisely because he rose from the dead, conquering death once and for all, and opening the way to eternal life for each one of us. "I am risen, and I am always with you." And he will remain with us if we remain with him. When he comes again, at the end of the world, or at the end of our individual lives, I pray that he will find each one of us remaining in his friendship. And for those who do not know the joy and peace of the Lord’s resurrection, may their hearts too be turned to trust in him. May the Lord raise us all with him on the last day.
© 2003, Rev. Timothy W. Castor