WORSHIP FOR EASTER DAY,PRAYING WITH HOPE
THAT WE MAY RISE ABOVE THE PANDEMIC
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendour, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes for ever!
✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope!
He has raised Jesus from the dead!
God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness!
He has made us light to the world!
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
SAYING SORRY
Like Mary Magdalen at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord, have mercy.
Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers.
Christ, have mercy.
Like Thomas in the upper room,
we are slow to believe.
Lord, have mercy.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon us,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,
and keep us in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant, we pray, that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM – Psalm 62
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God
O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God
So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise you with joy.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God
For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.
For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord my God
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia!
He has defeated the powers of death.
Alleluia!
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.
Alleluia!
He has the words of eternal life.
Alleluia!
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
ST.MATTHEW CHAPTER 28: 1-10
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.
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 the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
THE ADDRESS
On Holy Saturday (yesterday) in Turin Cathedral, there was an extraordinary veneration of the Turin Shroud (believed to have been the shroud in which Jesus's body was laid in the tomb). Archbishop Nosiglia of Turin presided over a liturgy
of prayer in the chapel, and during that time of contemplation the image of
the Holy Shroud was made available via the media to the whole world.
The reason? To show the faithful the (possible) "snapshot" of the resurrection,
to give hope, substance and support in this time of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Love is stronger" - the Easter proclamation that the Shroud possibly underlines.
“The love with which Jesus gave us his life
and that we celebrate during Holy Week", says the Archbishop,
"is stronger than every suffering, every illness, every contagion,
every trial and discouragement, present or past.
Nothing and no-one can ever separate us from this love,
because it is forever faithful and unites us to him with an indissoluble bond".
The Turin Shroud” - some venerate it as the burial cloth of Christ;
others maintain it is nothing more than a medieval hoax.
In 1978, Ian Wilson, author and journalist,
as a result of his research into the history, geography, and after extensive bio-geochemical research into the origins of plant materials and pollen,
and even forensic science to ascertain how the subject might have died,
made the case for this being the burial cloth of Jesus.
He explained this image, first realised
by a photographer in the 19th Century
as possibly a photographic negative,
an image of the Resurrection itself!
Ian Wilson's research went way beyond this, and hopes were dashed for a while when carbon-dating by the British Museum in 1988 put the cloth until much later.It was acknowledged that the shroud bore the imprint of a bearded man with wounds consistent to being nailed to a cross, but the carbon dating as taken then pointed to it originating in the Middle Ages.
However scientists at Padua University now believe the original results
could have been skewed by centuries of water and fire damage.
and it has been dated (from a small sample)
to anything between 300BC to 400AD.
They also used forensic tests to compare fibres from the shroud
with a range of ancient fabric samples, and it was agreed that the material
could have been made in Jesus’s lifetime.
The Turin Shroud could be the iconic picture of all time -
a photographic negative of the Resurrection.
The Resurrection is certainly the iconic EVENT of all time…..
But the real proof of the Resurrection is the faith of people like you and me,
and whether or not all that Christ went through was worth it.
Do I live as a person who is different because of the Resurrection?
Do I make Christianity attractive by the way I live, or through my kindness to others?
Do I make the Risen Christ obvious to others?
“We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!” - said St.Augustine.
Saint John Paul the Second said
"We are not looking for a shallow joy
but rather a joy that comes from faith,
that grows through unselfish love,
that respects the “fundamental duty of love of neighbour, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy”. We realize that joy is demanding;
it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: “Be it done unto me according to thy word”.
Never has there been more need of people to be "icons of the Resurrection",
to be proof that Jesus conquered death so that the world might have life.
The Coronavirus is not God's will. What IS God's will is that we, the Easter People
will make a difference for good in these frightening times,
leading the people of the world on an Exodus
"from death to life, from falsehood to truth,
from despair to hope, from fear to trust;
from hate to love, from war to peace."
Prayer for Peace - Satish Kumar
I BELIEVE….
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
He ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
And he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
WE PRAY
We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.
Jesus, light of the world,
bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations …
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, bread of life,
give food to the hungry …
and nourish us all with your word.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, our way, our truth, our life,
be with us and all who follow you in the way …
Deepen our appreciation of your truth
and fill us with your life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep,
look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition
of those who suffer because of this pandemic. Relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, and, throughout this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, the resurrection and the life,
we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you;
✠ rest eternal grant to them O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them.
May they rest in peace, and rise in glory.
We ask Mary to pray with us to the Lord our God
as we remember those in need of God’s presence
and love at this time:
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us, accept our prayers,
and be with us always. Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
This is holy space
God is here - you are welcome
This is your space to be with God And God's space to be with you
Make yourself at home
Be yourself
Be real
There's no rush
Let God love you
Let God know you
Let God heal you
Let God speak to you
Receive from God
Commune with God…..
Sit for a moment in silence
Let us lift up our hearts, and give thanks to God.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
at all times to acclaim you, O Lord,
but on this day above all to laud you yet more gloriously,
when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
For he is the true Lamb who has taken away the sins of the world;
by dying he has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life.
Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,
every land, every people exults in your praise
and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts,
sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
At the Saviour’s command
and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.
Time to sit quietly to receive the Lord’s Presence spiritually.
“My Jesus, I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart …
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You,”
Pope Francis prayed this on March 21
in his televised daily Mass from the Vatican City.
O God, protector of all who hope in you,
bless your people, keep them safe,
defend them, prepare them, that,
free from sin and safe from the enemy,
they may persevere always in your love.
Through Christ our Lord.
WE ASK GOD’S BLESSING
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
All our problems - we send to the cross of Christ.
All our difficulties - we send to the cross of Christ.
All that is evil - we send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes - we set on the risen Christ;
And may the blessing of God almighty,
✠ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
REGINA COELI
Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven! Alleluia. He whom thou wast meet to bear, alleluia. As he promised, hath arisen, alleluia. Pour for us to him thy prayer, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia!
Let us pray. O God, who through the resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world: grant, we beseech thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord.
FURTHER REFLECTION
WHY TO ME?
It’s almost as if it was a dream –
but the rest of my life before then –
that was a nightmare, spent in the arms of different men who seemed like corpses.
But when I anointed his feet I woke up,
and I’ve been awake ever since.
And ever since that night they nailed him to the cross,
and we prepared those ointments for him, I’ve never slept.
Those ointments had more tears in them than myrrh and aloes.
And that dawn – what anguish!
The stone, we were worrying about who would move it,
and it had already been rolled away.
All our work that night was for nothing.
It made me feel so empty – I could hardly breathe,
but I screamed at Peter and John -
“they’ve taken the Lord away from the tomb”.
I thought it was the gardener.
“If it’s you who have taken him away, tell me where you’ve put him!”
How could I not recognise him? -
Although my eyes were swollen with crying and tiredness.
Then he said it. “Mary” –
and it seemed, just for that moment,
that he had come back for me.
Why did he choose me, the whore from Magdala?
Why not his mother, or John?
He could see I was going to throw my arms around him. “
Don’t cling to me”.
How I needed to feel the warmth….
but his voice said it all….
and at least I was given the first-fruits of the joy of seeing him!
What more could I ask?
Luigi Santucci - "Wrestling with Christ"
"The Christian sense of victory over death is not a lack of concern with the reality of death. Death is the final enemy to be conquered. But we believe that Christ has overcome the dominion of death, and so resurrection faith is rooted in confidence and hope that we too will overcome. Yet it has only happened through the encounter with death on the cross. The celebration of Good Friday is neither a sad memory nor a secure one. It is a Passover celebration, and that celebration is dynamic, a feast for pilgrims, for people on the move, on the way to their liberation."
"We preach Christ Crucified" - Ken Leech.
“In me there is darkness,
But with You there is light;
I am lonely, but You do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help;
I am restless, but with You there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience;
I do not understand Your ways,
But You know the way for me.”
“Lord Jesus Christ,
You were poor
And in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am.
You know all man’s troubles;
You abide with me
When all men fail me;
You remember and seek me;
It is Your will that I should know You
And turn to You.
Lord, I hear Your call and follow;
Help me.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as he awaited execution in a Nazi Camp.
He died on 9th April 1945, just a month before war's end.
EASTER REFLECTION
Living God
Come and be in every painful place in our lives. Be in every painful place in our world.
Living God, who in the secret darkness rose from the grave, come and be in the secret, dark places in our lives.
Be in every secret, dark place in
our world.
Living God, who sent the women to proclaim the resurrection to the frightened, imprisoned apostles,
come and empower us in every frightened, imprisoned place in our lives, empower all in every frightened, imprisoned place in our world.
Living God, Risen Son, Easter God,
Come and make us your living Church,
Your risen Church, Your Easter Church, in every place in our world.
Education for Justice
Almighty and merciful Father,
who show your love to all creation.
Hear graciously the prayers we make for those affected by the Coronavirus in various parts of the world.
Grant healing to the sick, eternal life to the dead and consolation to the bereaved.
We pray that an effective medicine to combat the sickness be speedily found.
We pray for the relevant governments and health authorities, that they take appropriate steps for the good of the people.
Look upon us in your mercy
and forgive us our failings. Amen.
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