The word Alleluia is the most joyous word we can sing as disciples of Jesus. We use this word meaning, praise the Lord, throughout our liturgical year. We refrain from using it during the Lenten season so as to resurrect it and sing it with renewed vigor to ring in the Easter season. This joyous word is used to set apart the gospel reading from the rest of the liturgy of the Word. Rise to your feet and sing this joyous song to greet the word of the Lord just as if Jesus himself was standing at the ambo. For the Lord is with us in the spoken word.

We have a three-year cycle in the Lectionary. (The book of scriptures used during Mass) In cycle A, we hear primarily from the Gospel according to Matthew, cycle B, we hear from Mark and cycle C is from Luke. The writings from John are interspersed throughout the year regardless of what cycle we are in. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are very similar in their telling of the life, works, teachings, passion, and resurrection of Jesus, that is why they are referred to as the “synoptic” gospels. (The word synoptic comes from the Geek word for such a general view.) John’s writings are very different in their perspective however they do point to Jesus as Messiah.