Tag: Triduum

Holy Saturday—Easter Vigil

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. . . . And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. . . . Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. . . .” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Today’s Gospel for the Easter Vigil Mass tells how Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb of Jesus on the first day of the week and find that it is empty. An angel tells them that Jesus has risen from the dead, and that they should go and tell his disciples. Fearful yet overjoyed, they run to announce this to his disciples and meet Jesus on the way. In telling them not to be afraid and to go to Galilee, Jesus reveals that he will appear to them there. At this moment, Jesus confirms his divinity to the women and soon will do the same to the disciples. Through his resurrection, Jesus destroys death, offering salvation to all who believe in him. An unending source of joy and hope, the risen Christ brings to everybody as the firstfruits life in the new covenant based love and mercy and salvation for all.

God, just as the women came to see the tomb, I come to you today expecting nothing extraordinary to happen. A life lived in routines—even the best routines—leads to ordinary ends. It leaves little room for awe. Yet, as they arrived, the two Marys experienced an earthquake, an angel descending from heaven, Roman guards paralyzed with fear, a stone rolled back, and the voice of the angel saying, “Do not be afraid. I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.” Your angels, Lord, must know all about ordinary expectations. Rituals sustain us through all of life’s passages. We expect that a man who has died stays dead and that when visiting a tomb, we will find him there. But then the angel then invites them to see the place where Jesus lay, but the dead man is gone. God, help me today to put my well-worn, routine expectations to death in the pitch-black tomb where Jesus lay. Grant me the great gift of faith to expect that from the ordinary, you ignite the world with—wonder of wonders!—the extraordinary hope of life lived in your love.

From the responsorial psalm: “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. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him,  went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM.”

In the Lord’s Passion, Jesus refers to himself as I AM from the moment the chief priests and Pharisees come looking for him to his moment of death, when he says, “It is finished.” In his self-declaration as I AM, Jesus identifies himself as God. When Pilate tells Jesus that his own nation has handed him over to him and asks what Jesus has done, Jesus replies: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” Again, when Pilate tells Jesus he has the power to release him or crucify him, Jesus says, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.” So it is the eternal God, the creator of the universe, God who loved us into existence and whose Son is one with him, who died on the cross to take away our sins. As Isaiah says in the first reading of the servant, the Son of God: “he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.”

God, considering your Son on this day of his Passion, I fumble for words. What do I say to you? It’s the way I might feel when approaching a great or saintly person, yet there is added to that the sorrow of death and loss of a beloved one, your Son. It is your grace I need to help me expand and deepen my understanding of the passion. Saint Paul encourages me to come to you for that grace. Let me remember his words throughout the day: “So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” To find grace in you, God—I know you desire that and that you thirst for me to come to you. From the cross, Jesus said, “I thirst.” Let me hear your voice today and come to you to receive your mercy.

Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your kindness. Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the LORD. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Holy Thursday—Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’  and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

On this day, the Church celebrates three important events: the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the institution of priestly ordination and service, and the commandment to love one another as God first loved us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus knows that his hour has come to depart from this world to the Father. When Jesus offers to wash the feet of the disciples, Peter objects, saying: “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answers, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” And Peter says, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” In washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus gives them a model to follow “so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” With this example of the humility and love of the master, what opportunities do I have today and every day to follow as a disciple?

God, my tendency is like Peter’s in objecting to allow Jesus to humble himself before me. Jesus says, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over.” Yet, like Judas I have betrayed your Son and feel undeserving of his love. Help me, God, accept that you want my soul to be clean all over. For that, I need to allow you to wash me in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable or inconvenient. In turn, by your Son’s example, teach me to love and serve others when it is inconvenient or when humility toward them seems undeserved.

Lord, help me derive from Holy Thursday a deeper understanding of the graces and sacraments that you pour forth from it. If I am overwhelmed in taking its meaning in, guide me to what aspect of it that is most necessary in my life right now. The Gospel acclamation says simply what today is about: “I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY

Readings