SUNDAY, APRIL 12
DAY 25 - EASTER SUNDAY
This, the highest and holiest day of the year, is the day we celebrate Jesus' triumph over sin and death, and His opening of the gates of Heaven for all mankind.
Victimae Paschali Laudes
Christians, to the Paschal Victim, Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless, Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring, What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living, The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting, The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.e mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
From Our Spiritual Director ✝
Easter Sunday Reflection
Readings
Acts 10:34a, 37-43Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8John 20:1-9Happy Easter!
Alleluia He is Risen! Today we as a Church celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ who has defeated sin and death and won the true victory for all of His people. In the Gospel scene today, we would imagine there to be a calm and reflective encounter, but instead we see panic and grief. Mary has come to the tomb with Simon Peter and with John to find the tomb empty. Realizing that the tomb is empty they become frightened and concerned. As the Gospel recounts, “they did not yet understand the scripture that He had to rise from the dead.” We recognize that Jesus rose from the dead and appears to his disciples and to many others through the duration of the New Testament. Over the next few days, we will listen to the encounters of Jesus and his followers. This is a great time to reflect on our own encounters with Jesus especially over the last few weeks of Lent, but more importantly, in the days to come. How has Christ made Himself present in your life? Take some time to reflect on that today. God Bless!
Fr. Matt Rawson
1st Reading
Acts 10:34b,37-43
Peter proceeded to speak and said: "You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."
Psalm
Psalm 118
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. OR Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.”
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. OR Alleluia.
“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power; the right hand of the LORD is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.”
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. OR Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. OR Alleluia.
2nd Reading
Col 3:1-4
Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
OR
1 Cor 5:6b-8
Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Gospel
John 20:1-9
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 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.
Amen.