57.K – Devotion
Choose one family member to lead the call while the others respond. Be enthusiastic!
Call: Alleluia! He is risen!
Response: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Easter is one of the most, if not the most, joyous times of the year for the Church. After the darkness of Jesus’ death on Good Friday, Easter is a celebration of His victory over sin, death, and the devil. We celebrate by gathering at church with friends and family and by singing songs and hymns. Many of these songs include the word alleluia.
Alleluia is a Greek word that means “Praise God!” It sounds like the word hallelujah, which has the same meaning but comes from Hebrew. Hallelujah and alleluia are exclamations of praise, thanks, and excitement! We say alleluia a lot during worship services, except during the season of Lent. During Lent, we quietly reflect on our sins and ask God to forgive them. And God does just that! On Good Friday, Jesus died for our sins, forgiving us of our sins forever out of His great love for us.
When we remember how Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, we can’t help but praise Him! Alleluias fill our churches, schools, and homes as we praise our risen Savior! We thank God for saving us from our sins; for sacrificing His Son, Jesus; and for raising Him from the dead! God has defeated death forever, and we are no longer weighed down by our sins. Jesus has paid the price for us, so we give Him alleluias and songs of praise to say thank You.
- How do you celebrate a special occasion? How can you celebrate Easter?
- Why is it so special that we get to say alleluia at Easter?
- How can we praise God in our everyday lives?
Let’s pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You so much for dying for our sins, and thank You for rising from the dead! We praise You because You are powerful and victorious. Please help us to praise You in everything we say and do, and to share the news of Your death and resurrection with everyone. In Your name we pray. Amen.