Renew the Face of the Earth

~~~ Holy Saturday ~~~

~~Genesis 1:1-2:2~~Psalm 104~~Genesis 22:1-18~~
~~Psalm 16~~Exodus 14:15-15:1~~

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

~~Isaiah 54:5-14~~Psalm 30~~Isaiah 55:1-11~~

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

~~Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4~~Psalm 19~~Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28~~

~~~Romans 6:3-11~~~Psalm 118~~`

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

~~~ Matthew 28:1-10 ~~~

Each year the holy church in her wisdom gives us the history of our salvation.

From the beginning of creation God made evident how he loved us.

He created everything for us.

We are profoundly reminded through our senses of the the contrast 

between darkness and light.

We are given the cool refreshing and sometimes raging waters.

God populated the new earth with every living creature;

on the land and under the water.

The earth was teaming with life and beauty.

Every year we sing...

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Every year we are given the chance to see the world renewed...

to see the world as God intended it to be from the beginning, creation.

It is fitting that we are in the Springtime 

of the year; we have visible signs of new birth and new growth.

God put Abraham to the test.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his young son Isaac.

Abraham was ready to prove his undying willingness to obey God.

From that time forward God blessed the descendants of Abraham.

God chose Moses to lead his people out of the desert.

He gave them all that they needed.

He saved them from their enemies by parting the sea.

He fed them with manna from heaven 

'like the dewfall'.

Sadly, his chosen people became a disappointment for God.

They acted just like bratty spoiled children...

whining and complaining.

God never stopped loving.

He continues to give.

My favorite reading is Isaiah 55: 1-11

All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!

What are you waiting for? 

He is here loving, giving, satisfying your thirst.

Seek the Lord while he may be found...

He is generous...His ways are not like ours.

He is a magnanimous God.

He has the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

The stone has been rolled back...the tomb is empty...the burial cloths are folded.

“Do not be afraid!

Go tell everyone He is Risen.

It is now a time of rejoicing.

He has given us life eternal the greatest gift of all.

Alleluia, we are blessed beyond words.