Entering the Joy: Eastertide Entrance Antiphons.

 

Entering the Joy: Eastertide 

Entrance Antiphons Series.

He is not here. He is Risen:

Entering the Joy Eastertide Entrance Antiphons Series

The Entrance Antiphons are an important part of the Mass. They are meant to set the tone — the theological and emotional atmosphere for the entire celebration. They help us enter into the liturgy, prepare our minds and hearts, and reflect the spirit of the day, especially on feasts and solemnities.

Yet too often, these beautiful texts go unnoticed. They can sound like a garbled mess, especially if the congregation doesn’t have the words in front of them. Even with a text to follow, people may be out of sync — ahead or behind, seldom united in one voice. One might wonder: What’s the point of the Entrance Antiphon? They don’t always feel very inviting.

In this Eastertide series, Entering the Joy: Eastertide Entrance Antiphons, I want to explore these antiphons from both a biblical-theological and a practical perspective — so these hidden gems might take their rightful place in the crown of Easter’s spiritual splendour.

 

Easter Monday

“The Lord has led you into a land flowing with milk and honey, that the law of the Lord may always be on your lips. Alleluia.”
(Exodus 13:5,9)

 

What is the significance of milk and honey?

Milk and honey are symbols that pulse with promise, nourishment, and abundance — especially in the biblical imagination.

“A land flowing with milk and honey” is one of the most familiar images of the Promised Land — appears over 20 times in the Old Testament (e.g., Exodus 3:8; Leviticus 20:24; Deuteronomy 6:3).

Milk

• Sustenance and nourishment – A basic food, especially for the young; it evokes God’s care, growth, and maternal generosity.
• Purity and abundance – Often symbolizing spiritual nourishment or God’s word (1 Peter 2:2).
• Dependability – A steady gift, sustaining daily life.

Honey

• Delight and sweetness – A symbol of joy and the richness of God's blessing.
• God’s Word – Described as “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 119:103, Psalm 19:10).
• Peaceful abundance – Honey is a product of stability and settled life, not war or famine.

When paired, they give a complete picture of divine blessing:

·         Milk feeds you; honey delights you.

·         Milk builds up; honey lifts up.

·         Milk meets your need; honey exceeds it.

In Eastertide, as we enter the “new creation” and taste the first fruits of the Kingdom, this image becomes quietly powerful. We’ve passed through the Red Sea of death — and we’re heading not merely to survival, but to a land that overflows.

 

“The Law of the Lord” — What does it mean?

In the Hebrew tradition, this refers to the Torah — God’s instruction, wisdom, and covenant for living in right relationship with Him and others. It’s not a cold, legalistic concept. It’s:

• A pathway
• A lifeline
• A living relationship expressed through concrete commitments

Psalm 1 begins:

“Blessed is the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.”

Psalm 119 — all 176 verses — is a love letter to God’s law: sweet, life-giving, freeing.

 

 “May it always be on your lips” — Why the lips?

This isn’t just about knowing God’s Word — it’s about speaking it, living it, and letting it become the natural language of your heart.

In Scripture, when something is “on your lips” it means:

• You speak it naturally
• You share it freely
• It shapes your way of seeing the world

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 says:

“These words I command you today shall be on your heart… talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way.”

To have God’s law on your lips is to carry His wisdom not just in your thoughts, but in your conversations, decisions, and blessings — a spiritual reflex, not a religious performance.

 

Spirituality in Action:

How will I practice this antiphon today?

Some suggested ways might include:

• Reflect on a short verse of Scripture — say it aloud during the day.
• Write a verse on a sticky note and place it somewhere visible (kitchen bench, mirror, dashboard).
• Bless someone with a word that reflects God’s law of love — encouragement, truth, or prayer.
• If something frustrates you, try responding first with Scripture instead of self-talk or complaint.
• Say softly: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.”
• Enjoy a glass of milk and thank God for how He has sustained you.
• Taste a spoonful of honey — or stir it into the milk. How does that experience change how you feel?
• Ask the Lord: “How can I let Your law guide me today?”
• Provide from your own abundance to give to those who long for abundance even for a moment.

 

This beautiful antiphon reminds us that abundance and guidance are inseparable — that God’s way is not dry or burdensome, but sustaining, nourishing, even sweet.

Whether you encounter the Entrance Antiphon at Mass or use it in your daily meditation or journaling, let it draw you deeper into the riches Christ offers in this joyful season of Eastertide.