Christian Reflection and Prayer

Acts 10:34,37-43; Psalms 118:1-2,16-17,22-23;
Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

"He saw and He believed" (John 20:8).

A true story recounted by a man who celebrated
Easter Sunday in a big cathedral ...

It was a beautiful Spring day and a sense of
peace stayed with me as I left the Cathedral. 
I paused on top of the steps leading to the
Avenue, now crowded with people, and there,
sitting in her usual place under a small archway
was the elderly woman know to many of us
Church-goers as the "Flower Lady."  At her
feet were corsages and boutonniere spread
out on an open newspaper.

The flower lady was smiling, her wrinkled
old face alive with some inner-joy.  I started
down the stairs, and on an impulse, I turned
and picked out a flower.  As I put it in my lapel,
I said to the woman, "You look happy this
morning."  She replied, cheerily, "Why not? 
Everything is good."  She was dressed so
shabbily and she seemed so very old, that
her reply startled me.

"You've been sitting here every Sunday for
many years," I said to her, "and you're always
smiling, you wear your troubles well."

"You can't reach my age and not have troubles,"
she replied, "only it's like Jesus and Good Friday."

She paused for a moment, then added,
"You see, when Jesus was crucified on Good
Friday that was the worst day for the world. 
And when I get troubles I remember that. 
And then I think of what happened only three
days later.  Easter, and Our Lord, arising. 
So, when I get troubles, I learn to wait three
days.  And, somehow, everything gets all right
again."

And she smiled "Good-bye," and her words
still follow me whenever I think I have troubles.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Readings: Genesis 1:1-2: 2;
Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15-15:1;
Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11;
Baruch 3:19-15, 32-4:4;
Ezekiel 36:16-28; Romans 5:3-11;
Mark 16:1-8

Scripture:

"He has been raised up; He is not here."
(Mark 16:6)

Most families gather together after a
funeral. It is a time to console one another,
share memories of the deceased one, and
offer one another support during the healing
days ahead. So today the Christian family
gathers after the death of Jesus. The nine
readings used in the Easter Vigil call us to
remember the great deeds of God that
prepared the way for Jesus. Over and over
again we hear how God dramatically intervenes
in human affairs to create, to save, to reprimand,
and to form covenants. As we listen to stories
of the pervasive presence of God in our lives,
we know that we will never be abandoned. In this
comfort we turn to one another and give our
support to whatever healing we might need in
the days ahead. We can only love one another
because God has first and continuously loved us!

The Easter Vigil memories carried through
the readings end with Mark's quiet Resurrection
gospel. It was early in the morning, the dawn
was just breaking. In the faintness of that first
light, we hear of the resurrected Jesus Who
already has moved ahead into Galilee. Yes,
God again has dramatically intervened! The
young man in the white robe asks the disciples
to follow Jesus once more. Our vigil is over, the
night has ended. It is time to put on the armor
or day and join Christ in His mission to be the
Light of the World.

Prayer:

O God, Creator of heaven and earth:

Grant that, as the crucified body of your
dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on
this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him
the coming of the third day, and rise with him
to newness of life; who now lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever.
Amen

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53: 12;
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9;
John 18:1-19, 42

Scripture:

"Yet it was our infirmities that he bore,
our sufferings that he endured."
(Isaiah 53:4)

Reflection:

Jesus stretches out His Hands between
heaven and earth. The curtain in the Temple
that separated the people from God is ripped
in two. A new bridge has been established
between God and us. The bridge is Jesus
Who, now crucified, will never die again.
He lives forever as our passageway to the
living God! From His cross we discover
that the nature of the Church is to be a
spiritual family.  And in that spiritual
family of the Church are the values of
humility, joy, interior peace, and simple piety.

The readings present us with the end of a
stage of history. No longer must humanity
be dragged by its fears, sit in unforgiven sins,
and live at the mercy of the evil spirit. Now
begins the era of the New Covenant of God
with humanity marked by the Spirit of God.
When Jesus gives up His Spirit, the Spirit
doesn't die but instead fills the Church. As
Isaiah prophesies: "See, my servant shall
prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly
exalted." (Isaiah 52:13)

In this year of the new creation make
forgiveness and peace hallmarks of your life.

Prayer:

Christ Jesus you hung upon a cross and died for us
So that we might live for you
Your body was broken and your blood shed
So that we might be healed and made whole
You were faithful unto death
So that we might be faithful unto life
Your last command was that we might love one another
One family together from every tribe and nation
A new creation united through your sacrifice
Redeemed by your blood
Healed by your love
United by your covenant of peace
In your death may we find life

Amen