Lenten journal 46

27 March 2016 

Easter Sunday

Alleluia! The Lord has Risen! 

The Gospel tells us how Mary Magdala discovered the empty tomb and how the disciples ran to see what had happened thinking that the Roman soldiers had removed Jesus' body! For the next forty days until his Ascension to Heaven, Jesus appeared to his disciples, breaking bread with them; showed doubting Thomas his pierced hands and the wound on his side; walked with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus and how they felt their "hearts burn within" them as Jesus explained the scriptures to them....only then did it dawned on the disciples the teachings that their great Master had repeatedly told them: that the Son of Man will suffer, die and rise again on the third day! Yes, He has risen and this is a cause of great joy and celebrations for us; because today is the Day the Lord has made! This is the Day of Life! Everyone will experience mercy by His rising. This is the mind and vision of God which no one can destroy!    

How then do we respond to this great news? St Paul taught us in his letter to the Colossians (3) on the practical application of how we should live.

  

Set your hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.    

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. These are sins which provoke God's wrath. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and foul language. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, one who grows in knowledge as he is formed anew in the image of his Creator.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And above all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

The Gospel also tells us that each time Jesus appeared to his disciples, his greetings to them is always "Peace be with you." That is what our Lord wants to give us each day...peace; his Divine peace in our daily lives, in our families, in our relationship with our friends and colleagues, in the people we meet. A simple, yet very profound blessing indeed!

                               Do not abandon yourselves to despair.  

                               We are the Easter people and Hallelujah 

                               is our song!

                                                  - St Pope John Paul II-

  

Lenten Journal 45

26 March 2016 (Holy Saturday)

Holy Saturday, according to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is the day of the silence of God, of his apparent absence, of God's death...but it is also the day on which the Resurrection is proclaimed! Yes, at the Easter Vigil Mass!

Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil Mass is one of the most beautiful and meaningful celebrations of the Catholic Church. It holds many fond memories for me too, as James my husband was baptised in 1992, Daniel, my son-in-law in  2005 and Kylee, my daughter-in law in 2014, each after a year of RCIA journey with their sponsors and catechists, where they learn more about the Catholic faith. 

The Easter Vigil Mass starts with the lighting of the Paschal candle which then lit up the candles of the congregation until the whole Church is brightly lit up...so apt with the first liturgical reading of the Book of Genesis where God says "Let there be light" in His act of creation of the world.

The psalms sung by each Psalmist tell of God's glory and our souls' yearning for Him and to share in His goodness. So beautiful and meaningful! The Gospel readings tells us of the empty tomb, the resurrection, that Christ has indeed risen from the dead, as he has repeatedly told his disciples during his time with them.  

The Liturgy of Baptism follows and I will always remember the hymn sung in 1992 when James and the his fellow catechumens and sponsors line up to go to the Baptismal font: 

                          "Come to the water, You who are thirsty,
                           though you have nothing, I bid you come
                           and be filled with the goodness I have to offer!
                           Come, Listen, Live!"

The remaining of the mass which incorporates the Litany of the Saints, the anointing of oil as the newly baptised are Confirmed, the renewal of our baptismal promises, the prayers of the faithful, the rite of sprinkling, the celebration of the Paschal Eucharist, Holy Communion, the prayers and songs all make a night of worship a memorable and joyful one!  

                                The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters  
                                of baptism and thus becomes God's child.
                                                              - St Maximilian Kolbe-