Wonderful Before Our Eyes

~~~ Easter Sunday ~~~

~~~Resurrection of the Lord~~~

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 10:34A, 37-43 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~

~~~Colossians 3:1-4 ~~~ John 20:1-9 ~~~

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

This is the day for all Christians 

to lift our hearts and minds to heaven.

It the day set aside for our thoughts 

to concentrate on what is above.

Spring is the perfect time to celebrate 

the Resurrection of the Lord.

Spring is a time when nature bursts into bloom.

All of nature is rejoicing with new growth.

It is a time for us to also rejoice in our new birth

with Jesus...we have been promised life everlasting.

Life everlasting...a new life unlike the one we are living today.

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

...they did not yet understand the Scripture 

that he had to rise from the dead.

Imagine the confusion on that morning after the crucifixion.

The women come first to the tomb only to find 

the body of Jesus missing.

They quickly run to tell Peter and the other disciples.

They so desperately wanted to believe that

Jesus was raised from the dead

and not snatched by some grave robbers.

The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;

the right hand of the LORD is exalted.

This is the day the Lord has made for us

 to spread the joy of the Lord.

It is a day above all days to rejoice,,,

A day to loudly sing Alleluia.

For the Lord has been raised from the dead.

The Spirit of the Lord Blesses us 

in a very special way today.

Let your whole being be a reflection of his Joy.

Jesus Christ is Risen today...

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

~~~Peace~~~

Creation to Resurrection...Alleluia!

~~~ Holy Saturday~~~Easter Vigil~~~

 ~~~Genesis 1: 1, 26-31a ~~~ Exodus 14: 15-15: 1~~~

 ~~~Isaiah 55: 1-11~~~ Romans 6: 3-11~~~

~~~Luke 24:1-12~~~

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

The scriptures for the Easter vigil take us 

...from the Creation to Resurrection....

...from destruction to deliverance...

...from sinfulness to salvation...

...from repentance to rejoicing.

Truly this is a day for joy...a day for celebration...

a day when we are brought from darkness into light;

not just any light but the Light of Christ.

Today we are in flash back mode and fast forward...

Today we long for our own resurrection in the Lord.

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.

This is what we profess to believe...

that we shall also live with Jesus for all of eternity in heaven.

The Resurrection of Jesus by God

broke the chains of death not only for Jesus

but for all of us too.

The death of Jesus was not in vain.

His death was for one purpose in obedience

to the Father to secure our eternal salvation.

Today remove the stone from your heart...

let the glorious light of Christ fill you with Joy.

We see the light...

we no longer walk in darkness.

Now we too must live for God in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

How can we keep from singing?

Salvation showers us with Blessings of Joy.

~~~Peace~~~

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.

From Death into Life

Acts of the Apostles 10: 34a, 37-43 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~ Col. 3:1-4 ~~~ John 20: 1-9

He is Risen!

Let's return to the morning after...I am sure that Mary and those who loved Jesus got very little sleep after witnessing his barbaric death. I know from personal experience if I am upset about something how difficult it is to sleep. Your mind is working over time thinking about possibilities or solutions.

They had no time to properly prepare the body because of the Jewish feast beginning at sundown. They were not allowed to stay at the burial site and keep watch. 
The body of Jesus was laid in the tomb and left alone.

We are never alone when we have Jesus inside our heart.

The tomb was dark, he was wrapped tightly as a baby is swaddled. His arms and legs held close to his body. Swaddling makes a baby feel secure. Jesus was secure in knowing that it was finished, he had completed the will of the Father.

"...while it was still dark..."

Mary and the others returned to the tomb before dawn. The earth lay cloaked in darkness until Jesus was raised and released from the dark tomb. His glory broke forth like the new day's dawn.  The first ray of sunlight pierces the dark sky breaking open the new day.
The resurrection of Jesus dispels all sin and darkness. For he ushers in the eternal light of Salvation. We shall no longer walk in darkness.

Word spread as the rays of sun danced across the horizon proclaiming the empty tomb. The stone rolled back, the swaddling cloths neatly left behind. The separate cloth covering his face carefully set aside. Those who came saw and believed though they did not fully understand the scriptures.

Raised from dead; he now sits at the right hand of the Father
where they reign in glory as one.

As we celebrate the Resurrection let us joyfully sing Alleluia,
just as we joyfully sang the Gloria at his birth.

For we cannot have one without the other; life and death are part
of the great Circle of Life.
Today we are given confirmation of life after death in the kingdom of God.

He Makes All Things New

The Easter Vigil liturgy is saturated with his holiness.

Abundant Blessings...new fire...new water...the scriptural history of our salvation...new Catholics...Baptisms...Confirmation...First Eucharist...invocation of the Saints...all supported with beautiful music.

Behold, he makes all things new.

Christ is the Alpha and the Omega.

This solemn night gives birth to the mystery of new hope.

This is a most holy night...a most sacred night when we commemorate Christ fulfilling the promise of eternal life. We remember all that he has done for us and we celebrate because we believe. We believe that we shall see the goodness of the Lord. We believe that we shall walk in the land of the living with the Lord.
We believe that we too shall be made new.

We gather as a community to bear witness, but also to watch and pray together. We gather in solidarity with the newest Catholics. In truth they in turn inspire me to renew my faith.

The Light of Christ triumphantly enters into a darkened worship space. The new paschal candle annonces the saving light that dispels all darkness is here. This very large pillar candle of fire is prominently placed for all to see in the sanctuary.

The church gives us both Old Testament and New Testament readings, nine in all as we trace the history of our creation...the faith of Abraham...the safe passage of the Israelites...reassuring words that God will be there to take us back...the invitation to come to the water...acknowledging the wisdom of God...purified through God proving his holiness...

Romans 6:3-11 ~~~ Psalm 118 ~~~ Mark 16: 1-7
We are baptized into life and death with Christ. We will be joined with Christ in his Ressurection. Death will no longer have power over us...he makes all things new.

Alleluia...Alleluia...Alleluia
We have reason to rejoice the tomb is empty. The stone has been rolled back...Jesus is clothed in his glory. He makes all things new...Mary and the others were amazed at what they did not find. They did not find the body of Jesus they had come to anoint.

The glorious Jesus whom they did not recognize instructed them with a message to deliver to the disciples and Peter.

"He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."
Mark 16:7

He goes before us making all things new.
Spring is the most appropriate time of the year for us to celebrate the Resurrection. Nature responds every year to his credit and for his glory...
making all things new.

New things are fresh and clean. They smell pure not at all life the decay of death.
We prayed during this Lent for a clean heart and our prayers are answered with much more. We have been given a fresh start. We have been given another opportunity to respond to the question..."Who do you say that I am?"

I say, Lord, you are the one I am forever grateful to for leading me to your side.
I am forever grateful for being given abundant graces.