The Season of Lent
The Season of Lent
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Introduction Lent is sacred and spiritual for every Christian. This is the season that reminds us of the great sacrifice of Christ for each one of us. Centuries ago Jesus Christ went through an agony, a scourging, a crowning and a crucifixion. The tragedy of Good Friday led to the triumph of Easter Sunday. The acts of self denial, the acts of sacrifice we make during this season helps us identify with the sacrifices of Christ. Uniting our sacrifice with that of Christ, uniting our pain with his, Lent is set aside just to remind us of these factors. The whole thrust of the season of Lent is to increase one's spirituality. To make one more aware of the great events that took place centuries ago. Just think of this. The Eucharist that has nourished hundreds of million, the body and blood of Christ that is the core of our Christian belief, is recalled and represented for us during the season of Lent. The death of Christ on Good Friday, the worlds greatest act of Love, is represented to us during this Lent. The victory of Christ over death, the words of Christ reminding us that he is the resurrection and the life and that we will share in His victory and life, these are the lessons and teachings of Lent.
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Readings during Lent Ash Wednesday In the final verse of today's responsorial psalm the psalmist asks God to give me back the joy of your salvation." Joy is something we don't usually associate with the season of Lent. The first preface for Lent (the prayer that begins the Eucharistic Prayer) includes the phrase, "Each year you (Father) give us this joyful season." Perhaps a question for us for Lent 2006 might go something like this: What does it mean to be given back the joy of God's salvation? A major temptation for the contemporary Catholic is to seek salvation anywhere other than in God. We are bombarded constantly with messages from advertising, music, television, and movies, enticing us into what is falsely represented as salvation. We discover that when we hope for salvation in the things of this world, we are soon left disappointed. Following the way of salvation is no easy task, for it means walking with Christ on the road to Calvary. The true joy of salvation comes only when we configure ourselves to Christ on the cross and ultimately share with him in the joy of the Resurrection. As Lent begins, let us make the words of the psalmist our own and pray that God will give us back the joy of God's salvation.
First Reading A reading from the book of the prophet Joel Joel 2:12-18 Even now, says the Lord, Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the Lord, your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly; Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the porch and the Altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep, And say, "Spare, 0 Lord, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?"' Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Second Reading A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians2 Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2 We are ambassadors for Christ, God as it were appealing through us. We implore you, in Christ's name: be reconciled to God! For our sakes God made him who did not know sin, to be sin, so that in him we might become the very holiness of God. As your fellow workers we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In an acceptable time I have heard you; on a day of salvation I have helped you." Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation! The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Glory to you, Lord. Jesus said to his disciples: "Be on guard against performing religious acts for people to see. Otherwise expect no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, for example, do not blow a horn before you in synagogues and streets like hypocrites looking for applause. You can be sure of this much, they are already repaid. In giving alms you are not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Keep your deeds of mercy secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. "When you' are praying, do not behave like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in synagogues or on street comers in order to be noticed. I give you my word, they are already repaid. Whenever you pray, go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees what no man sees, will repay you. 'When you fast, you are not to look glum as the hypocrites do. They change the appearance of their faces so that others may see they are fasting. I assure you, they are already repaid. When you fast, see to it that you groom your hair and wash your face. In that way no one can see you are fasting but your Father who is hidden; and your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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First Sunday of Lent Today we hear the story of the first "giving in" to temptation. We also hear the Gospel story of Jesus' refusal to give in to the temptations offered by the devil. Between these two readings is the marvelous section from Saint Paul's letter to the Romans. This is a passage worth reading before Mass today. These long, seemingly obscure passages from Saint Paul often leave us bewildered. This is due in large part to the fact that for most Sundays of the year, the first reading is chosen for its connection to the Gospel. Very often, the second reading has little thematic material related to the other readings. Today the second reading puts the entire Liturgy of the Word into perspective. Pay particular attention to the final sentence. It hints at the struggle of conversion for the modem believer. We are sinners who often give into temptation. Yet, as baptized believers who have "put on Christ," we are also given the strength to avoid sin. This Lenten season highlights the fact that the life of the Christian is a life of "in-between-ness." We want to become more and more like Christ, yet we always seem to fall into temptation and sin. As we listen to the three readings today, let us pray that we will be strengthened in our attempts at not giving in to temptation. First Reading A reading from the Book of Genesis Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the LORD God had made. The serpent asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?" The woman answered the serpent: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die."' But the serpent said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil." The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19 Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned - [ for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one, the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Glory to you, Lord. Matthew 4:1-11 At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." He said in reply, "It is written:'One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God."' Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you' and 'with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "Again it is written,'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test." Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve." Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Second Sunday of Lent It's never too late. Notice Abram's age in today's first reading. He was seventy-five years old when the Lord told him to leave all the comforts of home and homeland and travel to an unknown land. Abram and Sarai's positive response to the Lord's request is astounding to us today. After all, isn't retirement the time when we finally become settled in surroundings that allow us to enjoy life comfortably? With God, everything we come to expect as 'usual" and "normal" is simply turned upside down. It's never too late to become a victim of one of God's great surprises, surprises that have the potential to change life very drastically. The second reading and Gospel cue us to the kinds of changes we can expect when we follow Christ. Just like last week, the final sentence of the second reading brings it all together: Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life and immortality through the Gospel. This is sometimes difficult to grasp, especially for those who experience the life-robbing power of the death of a loved one. Yet it is in the promise of transfiguration and resurrection that we face the deaths of those we love. It is never too late to pray that God will instill in us deeper faith so that we might more fully grasp the promise of eternal life. First Reading A reading from the Book of Genesis Genesis 12:1-4a The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you."I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."Abram went as the LORD directed him.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Second Reading A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy 2 Timothy 1:8b-10 Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to through the gospel. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Matthew 17:1-9Glory to you, Lord. Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Third Sunday of Lent The Christian journey is marked by all sorts of ups and downs. This is the kind of journey the ancient Israelites experienced in the desert, as described in today's first reading. These are people who wandered in the desert searching for the Promised Land. They were tired, hungry, and thirsty. In their thirst, they grumbled against Moses. How often do we feel like these Israelites on our own journeys of faith? How often do we grumble? Sometimes, when we feel we are earnestly following God's way for us, we experience longing for instant fulfillment-an immediate quenching of our deep thirsts. What the modern believer likes least to hear is "It takes time." In a world of quick communication, fast food, instant messaging, and programming at the click of a mouse, to be told that something will "take time" is most difficult. Today we are invited into a personal encounter with Christ, as was the woman he met at the well. just as Jesus saw into her heart, so today he sees into our hearts. The Lord knows our frustrations, our deepest desires and longings. At the well of today's Scriptures, let us be unafraid to share our deep thirsts with the Lord and pray for patience as we await the land promised to us-our heavenly home.
First Reading A reading from the Book of Exodus Exodus 17:3-'7 In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?" So Moses cried out to the LORD, 'What shall I do with this people? a little more and they will stone me!" The LORD answered Moses, "Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as.you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink." This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel. The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD in our midst or not?" The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans Romans 5:1-2, 5-8 Brothers and sisters: Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John Glory to you, Lord. john 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42 Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" - For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink, 'you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?" Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. " The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." Jesus said to her, "Go call your husband and come back." The woman answered and said to him "I do not have a husband." Jesus answered her, "You are right in saying, 'I do not have a husband. For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true." The woman said to him, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand, we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he win tell us everything."Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one speaking with you." [ At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, "What are you looking for?" or "Why are you talking with her?" The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?" They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Could someone have brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'In four months the harvest will be here'? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work." Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything I have done." When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Fourth Sunday of Lent "Awake, 0 sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." To those of us who may have been lumbering our way through this Lenten season comes this exhortation from Saint Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Even when we have stopped to rest, or even fallen asleep, on our journey of faith, God is always there to shake us and wake us up. And the promise, once we are alert again, is astounding-Christ will be our light. The miracle cure of the man born blind in today's Gospel is a story rich with all kinds of human interaction. There are at least two ways that Christ the light makes a difference in this Gospel story. The first has to do with the actual healing of the blind man. Imagine, this is a man who has never seen anything. Since he had never had sight, he didn't even have a memory of what the world looked like. Jesus gives him this gift for the first time. Unfortunately the world that is opened before him is not such a friendly and wonderful place. The Pharisees create all kinds of turmoil for this newly sighted man. This is the second way in which Christ the light makes a difference. Through this healing, Jesus exposes the blindness of the religious leaders of the day. Instead of rejoicing over this great miracle, they get all bogged down in the ,details and in their own unbelief. They can physically see, but their hard heartedness, their real blindness, only increases. Let us pray that the word of God today will shake us from any hard heartedness and blindness we might experience and bring us into a true encounter with Christ our light.
First Reading A reading from the first Book of Samuel Samuel 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13a The LORD said to Samuel: "Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons." As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is here before him." But the LORD said to Samuel: "Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart. " In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any one of these." Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.! Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here." Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, "There - anoint him, for this is the one!" Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians Ephesians 5:8-14 Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: "Awake, 0 sleeper,and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John John 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 Glory to you, Lord. As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. [ His disciples asked him, ",Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" - which means Sent -. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, "Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is, " but others said, "No, he just looks like him." He said, "I am." [ So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He replied, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see." And they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know." They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see." So some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself ' " His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, "He is of age; question him." So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" They ridiculed him and said, "You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from. " The man answered and said to them, "This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything." They answered and said to him, "You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?" Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord, " and he worshiped him. [ Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind." Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Fifth Sunday of Lent The Scriptures seem to cover every possible range of emotions. Today is no exception. Try to place yourself in the shoes of Martha or Mary. They knew, deep in their hearts, that if Jesus had been with them during Lazarus' serious illness, their brother would not have died, Rather than shrinking from this truth when Jesus arrives at Bethany, they confront the Lord with their deep lament. Sometimes we, too, feel just like these two faithful sisters. In the midst of serious illness, family crisis, or the death of a loved one, we feel like crying out, "Lord, if you had only been here!" Martha and Mary's honest lament was balanced with a confession of their faith in Jesus' life-giving power. Since the days of the psalmists, believers have voiced their outcries and laments to God, at the same time praising God for the good that has been showered upon them. The story of the raising of Lazarus shows us that even in the midst of death and decay, God still has the power to bring life and renewal. Let us listen to the Scriptures today, ready to join our voices with Martha and Mary in lament and ready to confess the Lord Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life.First Reading A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel Ezekiel 37:12-14 Thus says the Lord GOD: 0 my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, 0 my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans Romans 8:8-11 Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John John 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45Glory to you, Lord. Now a man was ill, Lazarus from"Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying, "Master, the one you love is ill." When Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." He said this, and then told them, "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." So the disciples said to him, "Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved." But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, "Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him." So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go to die with him." When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the CHRIST, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying , "The teacher is here and is asking for you." As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Sir, come and see." And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him." But some of them said, "Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?" So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the dead man's sister, said to him, "Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me." And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go." Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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| Palm Sunday Our Lenten journey of conversion today reaches the holy city of Jerusalem. We have traveled with the Lord into the desert of temptation, seen him in transfigured glory, listened in on his conversation with the woman at the well, watched in amazement as he cured the man who had been born blind, and were awestruck when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Now we travel with him through the gates of the city in which he will be betrayed, arrested, tried, tortured, and suffer capital punishment. The liturgies of Holy Week, beginning with today's celebration of Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, are the richest, most profound celebrations in the liturgical year. Catholic churches are packed on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, yet the days that fall in between, the days when we focus on the absolute basics of our faith, find our churches only partially filled. Why not consider this the year when you will take full advantage of all that the church's liturgy has to offer and celebrate the Easter Triduum fully? Begin with entering the city of Jerusalem with the Lord and his disciples on this sacred day. Return on Thursday evening to celebrate the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, with its foot washing service and transfer of the Holy Eucharist. Friday will see us proclaiming the Passion according to Saint John, followed by the powerful veneration of the cross. The Easter Vigil, on Saturday night, while perhaps the longest liturgy of the year, is really the "Mass of all Masses." During that holy night we light a fire in the darkness, proclaim Christ our Light, and listen to the great stories of salvation. It is only when we have fully celebrated the passion, death and resurrection of Christ in these three sacred days that we then initiate new members into the family of God. Catechumens are plunged into the waters of baptism, dying and rising with Christ. Candidates for full initiation may then join them in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation. Then, joined together as one body, we gather at the table of the Eucharist to eat and drink of the body and blood of the one who came to save us and set us free. Consider making this the year that you take full advantage of all the parish has to offer in service to you during this holiest of weeks. Let us pray that this celebration of Palm Sunday will touch our hearts and draw us into the mystery of God's abiding love as that love unfolds for us in the great liturgy of Easter. Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord's paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us remember with devotion this entry which began his saving work and follow him with a lively faith. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life.
Blessing of Branches Almighty God, we pray you bless + these branches and make them holy. Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Lord, Increase the faith of your people and listen to our prayers. Today we honor Christ our triumphant King by carrying these branches. May we honor you every day by living always in him, for he is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Glory to you, Lord. Matthew 21:1-11When Jesus and the disciples drew near jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,'The master has need of them.'Then he will send them at once." This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" And the crowds replied, "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Isaiah 50:4-7 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians Philippians 2:6-11Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Matthew 26:14- 27:66 or 27:11-54 |
| Narrator: | The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, |
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"What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" |
| Narrator: | They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, |
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"Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" |
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He said, |
| Jesus: | "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples...... |
| Narrator: | The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said , |
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"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." |
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Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, |
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"Surely it is not
1, Lord?" He said in reply, |
| Jesus: | "He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." |
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Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it is not 1, Rabbi?" He answered, "You have said so." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
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"Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father." |
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Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed'; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee." |
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Peter said to him in reply, "Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be." Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you. And all the disciples spoke likewise. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, |
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"Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me." He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray. that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
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Withdrawing a second time,
he prayed again, "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!" Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them,
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| Jesus: | "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand." |
| Narrator: | While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people..His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, |
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"The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him." Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, "Friend, do what you have come for." |
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Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him. "Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?" |
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At that hour Jesus said to the crowds. "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." |
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Then all the disciples left him and fled. Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter was following him at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard, and going inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, |
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"This man said,' I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it."' The high priest rose and addressed him, "Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him in reply, "You have said so. But I tell you: From now on you will see 'the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and /coming on the clouds of heaven."' |
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Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed What further need have we of witnesses? You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?" |
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They said in reply, "He deserves to die!" Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!" As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly. When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying,
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"I have sinned in
betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? Look to it yourself." Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said,
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"It is not lawful
to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood." After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter's field just as the Lord had commanded me." |
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*Now Jesus stood before the
governor, and he questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say So. " And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?" But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?" |
| Narrator: | For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him." The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, |
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"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They answered, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, 'Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" But he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Let him be crucified!" When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying,
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"I am innocent of this man's
blood. Look to it yourselves." And the whole people said in reply, "His blood be upon us and upon our children." Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews! " They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha - which means Place of the Skull -, they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,
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| Chorus: | You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!" |
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Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, I am the Son of God.'" The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way. From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon' And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
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Eli, Eli, lema
sabachthani?" Which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders who heard it said, This one is calling for Elijah." Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."
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But Jesus cried out again in a
loud voice, and gave up his spirit. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother Of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening' there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting by the tomb. The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees- gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, After three days I will be raised up. Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' This last imposture would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can." So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the, stone and setting the guard.
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The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Holy Thursday As the sun sets on this holy night, our Lenten journey of conversion draws to a close and Easter opens before us. The Easter Triduum, the three-day celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord, begins. There are so many wonderful words proclaimed on this holy night. There are ritual gestures, processions, and music that express profound mystery and fill us with awe. Listen carefully this night to the reading from Saint Paul to the Corinthians. This may hold the key for the entire Triduum, especially in its last line: 'For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes." This Easter Triduum reminds us that each and every Sunday celebration of the Eucharist "proclaims the death of the Lord until he comes." That may sound strange-why would we come together to proclaim someone's death week in and week out? This is at the core of our belief as Catholics. We remember and proclaim Christ's death as a reminder that his death broke the chains of death once and for all. Yes, we will physically die and our earthly lives some day will be ended. But the promise, inaugurated by the saving death of Christ, is that it doesn't end with our earthly deaths. Eternal life with God awaits us and, on the last day, our earthly bodies will be resurrected in Christ. Let us pray that as the liturgy of the Easter Triduum unfolds, the power of the music, words, and ritual will draw us deeply into the proclamation of the death of the Lord. Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper First ReadingA reading from the Book of Exodus Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, "This month shall stand at the head of your calendar; you shall reckon it the first month of the year. Tell the whole community of Israel: On the tenth of this month every one of your families must procure for itself a lamb, one apiece for each household. If a family is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join the nearest household in procuring one and shall share in the lamb in proportion to the number of persons who partake of it. The lamb must be a year-old male and without blemish. You may take it from either the sheep or the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two door posts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb. That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.'This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the LORD. For on this same night I will go through Egypt, striking down every firstborn of the land, both man and beast, and executing judgment on all the gods of Egypt - I, the LORD! But the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thus, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you. "This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution."
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Second Reading A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians Corintkians 11:23-26Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John Glory to you, Lord. John 13:1-15Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning' to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean." So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me teacher and master, "and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Good Friday Today is the day when we are given the opportunity to lay our pain and suffering at the foot of the cross of Christ. The Responsorial Psalm expresses human feelings that we all can resound with at one time or another. Have you ever felt "forgotten like the unremembered dead?" Have you ever been "like a dish that is broken?" Think about a broken dish for a moment. To feel like one means that you feel as if you are of no use to anyone. Today is the day to bring all of the very real human feelings of rejection to this liturgy, to hear God's saving words and to venerate the cross honestly. So often a ritual like the veneration of the cross can become meaningless and routine. This year, bring every part of you to that cross your pains and your joys, your sufferings and your triumphs, your acceptances and your rejections. Somehow, through the mystery of the cross, Christ experienced defeat and triumph at the same time. Aligning ourselves with Christ on the cross can mean that we will know triumph through defeat. Today is a day to pray for all those around you who bring to the cross of Christ abundant joy, as well as deep pain and suffering. We venerate the cross as a community-we are never alone.
First Reading A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him so marred was his look beyond human semblance and his appearance beyond that of the sons of man so shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom people hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people, a grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial, place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood. But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear. Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Second Reading A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John John 18:1 - 19:42
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Jesus went out with his
disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his
disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met
there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief
priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus,
knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, "Whom are you looking for?" They answered him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I AM." Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, "I AM, " they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them,
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"Whom are you
looking for?" They said, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." This was to fulfill what he had said, "I have not lost any of those you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?" So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus, bound him, and brought him to Annas first. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was better that one man should die rather than the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Now the other disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus. But Peter stood at the gate outside. So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter,
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"You are not one of
this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm.
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The high priest
questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue or in the temple area where all the Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. They know what I said." When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him,
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"You are not one of
his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?" Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring against this man?" They answered and said to him, "If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you. At this, Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law." The Jews answered him, "We do not have the right to execute anyone, In order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die. So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him,
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"Are you the King
of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
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So Pilate said to him, " Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
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Pilate said to
him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he again went out to the jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" |
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They cried out again, "Not this one but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,
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"Hail, King of the
Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly. Once more Pilate went out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, "Behold, the man!" When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, 'Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." The Jews answered, 'We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid, and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,
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"Where are you
from?" Jesus did not answer him. So Pilate said to him, "Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin."
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Consequently, Pilate
tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge's bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your king!" They cried out, 'Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS." Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place whore Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the jews," but that he said, "I am the King of the Jews." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. So they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, " In order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says: "They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots." This is what the soldiers did. Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said,
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"I
thirst." There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
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"It is
finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. All kneel and pause for a short time. Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of that week was a solerrm one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and that they be taken down., So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe. For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled: "Not a bone of it will be broken." And again another passage says: "They win look upon him whom they have pierced." After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by. |
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Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
General Intercessions The general intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word, and take on a tone of heightened importance on this day. The priest stands at the chair, or he may be at the lectern or altar. With his hands joined, he sings or says the introduction in which each intention is stated. All kneel and pray silently for some period of time, and then the priest with hands extended sings or says the prayer. The people may either kneel or stand throughout the entire period of the general intercessions.FOR THE CHURCH in peace and tranquility. Let us kneel. Let us stand
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR THE POPE Let us pray for our Holy Father, N., that God who chose him to be bishop may give him health and strength to guide and govern God's holy people. Let us kneel. Let us stand Almighty and eternal God, you guide all things by your word, you govern all Christian people. In your love protect the Pope you have chosen for us. Under his leadership deepen our faith and make us better Christians. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE CHURCH Let us prayfor our bishop for all bishops, priests, and deacons; for all who have a special ministry in the Church, and for all God's people.
Almighty and eternal God, your Spirit guides the Church and makes it holy. Listen to our prayers and help each of us in his own vocation to do your work more faithfully. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. FOR THOSE PREPARING FOR BAPTISM Let us pray for those preparing for baptism, that God in his mercy make them responsive to his love, forgive their sins through the waters of new birth, and give them life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty and eternal God, you continually bless your Church with new members Increase the faith and understanding of those preparing for baptism. Give them a new birth in these living waters and make them members of your chosen family. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR THE UNITY OF CHRISTIANS Let us pray for all our brothers and sisters who share our faith in Jesus Christ, that God may gather and keep together in one Church all those who seek the truth with sincerity.
Almighty and eternal God, you keep together those you have united. Look kindly on all who follow Jesus your Son. We are all consecrated to you by our common baptism. Make us one in the fullness of faith, and keep us one in the fellowship of love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE Let us pray for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God,
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN CHRIST Almighty and eternal God, you created mankind so that all might long to find you and have peace when you are found. Grant that, in spite of the hurtful things that stand in their way, they may all recognize in the lives of Christians the tokens of your love and mercy, and gladly acknowledge you as the one true God and Father of us all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. FOR ALL IN PUBLIC OFFICELet us pray for those who serve us in public office, that God may guide their minds and hearts, so that all men may live in true peace and freedom.
Almighty and eternal God, you know the longings of men's hearts and you protect their rights. In your goodness watch over those in authority, so that people everywhere may enjoy religious freedom, security, and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. FOR THOSE IN SPECIAL NEEDLet us pray, dear friends, that God the almighty Father may heal the sick, comfort the dying, give safety to travelers, free those unjustly deprived of liberty, and rid the world of falsehood, hunger, and disease. Almighty, ever-living God, you give strength to the weary and new courage to those who have lost heart. Hear the prayers of all who call on you in any trouble that they may have the joy of receiving your help in their need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Veneration of the CrossThe veiled cross is unveiled in the sanctuary in three stages by the priest.Showing the Cross At each stage, the cross is raised high and the invitation "This is the wood of the cross" is sung. The people respond with "Come, let us worship." At the end of each invitation all kneel and venerate the cross briefly in silence; the priest remains standing and lifts the cross high. Veneration of the Cross All come forward in a procession to venerate the cross.
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The Easter Vigil Tonight is the night when the Church "pulls out all the stops." As a youngster I. used to hear that expression and wonder what it meant, until I began to study the pipe organ. The stops on a pipe organ are the knobs that, when pulled out, allow the air pressure to enter the particular pipe chambers that the knob controls. So, to 'pull out all the stops" means to allow the air pressure to fill each rank of pipes so that, when notes are depressed on the keyboard, the fullest and richest sound is made. All the pipes for the particular note are sounding at the same time. What a glorious sound! Tonight's liturgy is the fullest and richest a liturgy can be. Allow yourself to be drawn into the Service of Light: ask Christ the Light to enlighten any darkness within your heart. Let the word of God be a living word for you: ask God to save you and make you free just as the ancient Israelites were freed from the bondage of slavery. Let the celebration of Baptism and Confirmation touch your own heart: ask the Holy Spirit to renew your commitment to bring justice to a hungry world. Allow your sharing in the body and blood of Christ to fill your deepest hunger: ask Christ, the bread of life, to strengthen you on your journey of discipleship. Let the wonder of this holy night of Easter fill us all with the wonder of the Resurrection. Let this place resound with joy!
First Reading A reading from the Book of Genesis Genesis 1:1-2:2 Or 1:1, 26-31In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God Failed the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." Thus evening came, and morning followed - the first day. Then God said, "Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other." And so it happened-.God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it. God called the dome "the sky." Evening came, and morning followed - the second day. Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear." And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land "the earth," and the basin of the water he called "the sea." God saw how good it was. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it." And so it happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed the third day. Then God said: "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years, and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth." And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed - the fourth day. Then God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came, and morning followed - the fifth day. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds.fl And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then I God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed - the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Book of Genesis Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9,10-13,15-18 God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said: "Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a hight that I will point out to you." Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey, took with him his son Isaac and two of his servants as well, and with the wood that he had cut for the holocaust, set out for the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar. Then he said to his servants: "Both of you stay with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over yonder. We will worship and then come back to you." Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the holocaust and laid it on his son Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham: "Father!" Isaac said. 'Yes, son," he replied. Isaac continued, 'Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the holocaust?" "Son," Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust." Then the two continued going forward. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD'S messenger called to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am!" he answered. "Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger. "Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son." As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. [ Abraham named the site Yahweh-yireh; hence people now say, "On the mountain the LORD will see." Again the LORD'S messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing - all this because you obeyed my command." The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.Third Reading A reading from the Book of ExodusExodus 14:15 - 15:1 The LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. And you, lift up your staff and with hand outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land. But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate that they will go in after them. Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots and charioteers. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers."The angel of God, who had been leading Israel's camp, now moved and went around behind them. The column of cloud also, leaving the front, took up its place behind them, so that it came between the camp of the Egyptians and that of Israel. But the cloud now became dark, and thus the night passed without the rival camps coming any closer together all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the Israelites marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian !force a glance that threw it into a panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians. Then the LORD told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers." So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the LORD hurled them into its midst. As the water flowed back, it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh's whole army which had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not a single one of them escaped. But the Israelites had marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the LORD had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: I will sing to the LORD, for he is Gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Epistle A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans Romans 6:3-11Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptize'd into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Matthew 28:1-10Glory to you, Lord. After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. "Behold, I have told you." Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."The Gospel of Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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| Easter Sunday
Today hundreds of millions of Christians across the globe gather
to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From small adobe churches in Peru to grand
cathedrals throughout the western world, the defining event for Christians draws people
from every race and language to praise God for the mystery of Christ's death and
resurrection. Each year, the believer must ask the question: What difference does the
resurrection of Christ make in my life? In the past year, since we last gathered to
celebrate Easter, are there moments that can be truly identified when the power of
Christ's resurrection has transformed my life? Today is the day to let the joy of Easter
ring through our life experiences. As we listen to the word of God today and share at the
table of the Eucharist, let us pray that Easter will have a deeper impact on the joys and
sorrows that the coming year holds. Being believers means that we reflect on our lives
with "Easter intentionality"-do we bring our joys and sorrows to the Lord Jesus
who suffered and died to save us and make us free, in the hope that we, too, like Christ,
will be freed from the bonds of sin and death? Let us all make this Easter 2006 one that
will make a difference.
First Reading A reading from the Acts of the Apostles Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Peter proceeded to speak and said: "You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Second Reading A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians Colossians 3:1-4 Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel A reading from the holy Gospel According to John John 20:1-9 Glory to you, Lord. On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
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