BECAUSE HE LIVES
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: Christ is risen. Christ is alive. What does this mean?
Sally Deford’s Because He Lives is a beautiful hymn which lists what we are and what we can do… because Jesus lives! You and I are strengthened to carry our crosses, to ride the storms in our lives, to love the unloved, to bring hope to the hopeless, to reach out to the needy, to face the future, and to conquer everything… even death… because he lives. We pray that we believe this truth and live by it.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have not been an Easter people, for the times we have despaired at the empty tomb, we ask the Lord to pardon us.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life in the Spirit:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you bring light to those in darkness:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd, leading us into everlasting life:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God of undying life,
by your mighty hand
you raised up Jesus from the grave.
Bestow upon those baptised into his death
the power flowing from his resurrection,
that we may proclaim near and far
the pardon and peace you give us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Response This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
or: Alleluia.
Reading 2 Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;
let us then feast with joy in the Lord.
Gospel John 20:1-9
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Put yourself in the stead of one of the characters of the Easter story: Mary of Magdala, Peter, the beloved disciple. Reflect on your thoughts and feelings when you find the tomb empty.
Sunday Snippets
The new pastor—fresh out of seminary—was visiting Joe, an elderly and terminally ill parishioner.
After talking about everything else, the pastor finally asked: “Joe, doesn’t it bother you? Aren’t you frightened?”
Joe smiled and said: “Padre, I know I’m not going to make it, but I’m not afraid. You see… I’ve peeked at the end of the book.”
“What do you mean?” the priest asked.
Joe replied: “Ten years ago, I had a massive heart attack. I remember the doctors thinking I was dead. I also remember the tremendous feeling of being surrounded by God’s love. The doctors revived me. Ever since that day I have been unafraid to die. I’ve been there; I’ve seen the future and it doesn’t frighten me. I know that one day soon I am going to sleep and I believe that when I awaken, I will be surrounded by God’s love.”
Joe peeked at the end of the book. And this made him unafraid to die. We have read the beginning, the end and through “the book”.
The tomb is empty. Christ is risen; he is alive. And we too, shall live… because he lives! Because of the Resurrection, we have a glimpse of the future, of what awaits us; and we can live transformed and fearless lives.
It is the Resurrection that gives meaning to our Christian life. Recall Peter’s address to the crowd on Pentecost (First Reading): he emphasizes that God raised Jesus to life. Recall how the apostles made sense of all that Jesus said and did—during his public ministry—in the light of the resurrection. Recall Paul’s words: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). We shall live… because he lives!
How do we live this new life? First, we commit ourselves to living this new life by renouncing values and ideologies contrary to the way of Jesus. Second, the risen Lord sends us to proclaim his resurrection: “Go and tell my brothers and sisters…”
How will I live like an “Easter person”? To whom and how will I proclaim the good news of the Resurrection?
May we live as an Easter people… because he lives!
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: Peter proclaims: “We are witnesses of all that he did…” What has the Lord done in my life? How do I witness to what he has done for me?
Reading 2: Paul challenges the Colossians: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.” Do I seek what is above or do I yearn for “what is on earth”? Have I used the Lenten season to “clear out the old yeast”?
Gospel: The same women who came to anoint his body in the morning had been with Jesus when he died. Contrast their behaviour with some of Jesus’ other disciples. Like whom am I: the women or the disciples?
Where is my courage on a scale of 1 to 10?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: To God our Father, who has raised his Son, Jesus, from the dead, we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may radiate the light of Christ each day and confidently live as daughters and sons of God, we pray to the Lord…
R: For our world: that the Risen Lord will guide the human family away from violence, particularly in Ukraine, and towards new efforts of cooperation and human development, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who find themselves walking in darkness or doubting their faith: that they may encounter the Risen Lord who brings light to their journey and peace to their hearts, we pray to the Lord…
R: For the sick: that God may heal the sick, give strength to those facing an extended recovery, and deliver the human family from the coronavirus, we pray to the Lord…
R: For all who have died: that Christ may welcome them into the eternal light and joy of God’s presence and
For all who are grieving: that God may give them peace and hope as they hear the Good News of Christ’s resurrection, we pray pray to the Lord…
R: For our common home: that God may lead us to be good stewards of creation and guide our actions to restore the damages done to it, we pray to the Lord…
R: For ourselves: that our experience of the Risen Lord may help us live renewed lives and enable us to bring hope, meaning, and love to our society, we pray to the Lord…
L: Our God and Father, you call us your sons and daughters and that is what we really are. Make us gratefully cooperate with you in the works of your creating and serving love, so as to look forward in hope to joy without end. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
The boulder upheaved;
the burial head cloth rolled up;
an empty tomb.
The one who loved us into wholeness
is alive and with us now.
Lord,
your resurrection had a deep impact your disciples:
they proclaimed you boldly;
they understood all their experiences of the three years
in the light of the resurrection.
Lord,
let your resurrection have an impact on me:
may I live fearlessly
knowing that death is not the end of my life
and believing that God’s love will envelop me forever.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God of life and of love,
we rejoice that Jesus is risen
and that he has begun
to raise us up with him in baptism.
Continue in us the work of the resurrection,
lift us above our faults and our mediocrity,
to joy and unselfish love
as we serve you in one another. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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