Holy Saturday - Liturgy
PART I: SERVICE OF THE LIGHT
Introduction by the Celebrant
Introduction by the Celebrant
When there was sin, the world was in the grip of darkness. We celebrate tonight how Jesus came in that darkness to bring us the light of God's love by his death and resurrection. Now a new era could begin for the world and for all of us. This is why we light the fire, for Jesus came to light in us the fire of his love and hope. Let its flames leap up high in us and make us fervent. We kindle the light and profess that Jesus Christ is our light and the light of the world. We follow him and ask him to make us lights on the path of others. What a joy for us!
Easter Vigil and Easter 2016
You probably do not remember the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin. During his day he was as powerful a man as there was on earth. A Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and was a full member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are still read today. There is a story told about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insult, argument, and proof against it.
An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of men's faith. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium but then one man approached the platform and mounted the lectern standing near the communist leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: "CHRIST IS RISEN!" En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"
I say to you this morning: CHRIST IS RISEN! (congregational response should be: HE IS RISEN INDEED!). I am convinced! I have faith that Christ was dead and he was buried. That I believe. But, this too I accept as true: He rose from the dead and will come again in glory.
This is Easter. And to stand here on this day in this pulpit and proclaim this word. . . I cannot begin to tell you how this defines all that I am.
But, you will say to me, how do you know that the resurrection is real? How do you know that it is really valid?
1. Because someone told me about the Resurrection
2. Because the Resurrection as stood the test of time
3. Because I have experienced the Resurrection
Hoy Thursday 2016
Tony
Kayala, c.s.c.
1. Jesus was humiliated in the very heart of his own teaching when the
disciples were fighting for position. So he does three things: a. he exchanges
the symbol of position with a symbol of service (stole with towel), b. they
want to “take” and he says “Take this and eat” and he “gives”; c. finally he
prays to the Father to keep them together in unity. These are the 3 symbols we
used as we began the Lent on Ash Wednesday: a. fasting is what we do to
ourselves (humility-washing – vis-à-vis love yourself), b. almsgiving is what
we do for others (love your neighbour) and finally c. prayer is what we do with
God (love God). These are the foundations of our faith – the two commandments
lived, explained, understood differently.
Good Friday 2016
The betrayals of so many people ended in a tragedy of cosmic
proportions. Let us pay particular attention to all those seemingly
insignificant decisions made by the supporting actors in this melancholy drama.
It won't be difficult to see ourselves in this play; each of us commits the
same little murders every day.
India's Sister Lucy Kurien: a life of self-less service
For nearly 20 year's her shelters have helped women and children desperately in need.
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee presents Sister Lucy Kurien with the Nari Shakti (women empowerment) award, March 8. (Photo courtesy of Sister Lucy Kurien) |
Through her organization — called Maher (mother's home) — Sister Kurien assists destitute women and children irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
"The focus is always on the street, especially the women who are mentally challenged and those suffering from HIV," said Sister Kurien, who belongs to the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod.
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