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Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter Monday

9 April 2012

As we are finished with our Lenten Journey of 40 Days of Stories, I will be posting interesting tidbits of information to mark the Easter Season.

Today's topic: EASTER EGGS

Easter eggs are seen by many non-believers as a throw-back to pagan ritual, thereby negating the importance of the season. But our Eastern brothers and sisters of the Byzantine Rite may have a different take on the subject. There is a legend that Mary Magdalene went to Rome after Jesus' death and resurrection. There, she went to Tiberius to chastise him about how Jesus had been treated and to share with him the wonderful news of Jesus' resurrection. Upon hearing the story, Tiberius said that Jesus had no more risen from the dead as that egg is red. Mary had used an egg as an example of the empty tomb. No sooner had Tiberius said these words did the egg turn red..hence our Easter eggs are reminiscent of this legend. The egg also harkens to the Passover Plate....the symbol for rebirth as seen by thousands through the years.

Readings for the Day:
     Acts 2:14, 22-33
     Psalm 16
     Matthew 28:8-15

Collect for the Day:
"O God, who give constant increase to your Church by new offspring, grant that your servants may hold fast in their lives to the Sacrament they have received in faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever Amen."

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Easter Sunday

HE IS RISEN!
ALLELUIA!

HAPPY EASTER FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

Holy Saturday & the Easter Vigil

7 April 2012

Today is Holy Saturday. Tonight will be the Easter Vigil, the third pillar of the three liturgies that comprise Triduum. Please refer to the link at the right. The link contains many activities you can do with your family.

Our 40 DAYS OF STORIES is now complete. I urge you to look at some of the links to the right and use the activities found there to really mark this HOLY SATURDAY, the Vigil of Easter, so that tomorrow's resurrection may be fully experienced. One particular tradition in our family, is to make RESURRECTION COOKIES. Through this activity, the family physically experiences Christ's Passion. There is a link for that family activity at the right, as well.

Readings for the Vigil:
     Genesis 1:1-2:2
     Psalm 104
     Genesis 22:1-18
     Psalm 16
     Exodus 14:15-15:1
     Exodus 15
     Isaiah 54:5-14
     Psalm 30
     Isaiah 55:1-11
     Isaiah 12
     Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4
     Psalm 19
     Ezekiel 36:16-28
     Psalm 42
     Romans 6:3-11
     Psalm 118
     Mark 16:1-7

Collect for the Day:
"Christ became obedient for us unto death, even to the death of the cross. Amen."

Friday, April 6, 2012

Good Friday

6 April 2012

Today is Good Friday.

Our story today tells of when Peter Was Scared.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in Mark 14.

"And while Peter was in the court below, one of the maidservants of the high priest arrived. And when she had seen Peter warming himself, she stared at him, and she said: “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you saying.” And he went outside, in front of the court; and a rooster crowed. Then again, when a maidservant had seen him, she began to say to the bystanders, “For this is one of them.” But he denied it again. And after a little while, again those standing near said to Peter: “In truth, you are one of them. For you, too, are a Galilean.” Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, “For I do not know this man, about whom you are speaking.”  And immediately the rooster crowed again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he began to weep."

Readings of the Day:
     Isaiah 52:13-53:12
     Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-14, 15-17, 25
     Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
     John 18:1-19:42

Collect for the Day:
"Remember your mercies, O Lord, and with your eternal protection sanctify your servants for whom Christ your Son, by the shedding of his Blood, established the Paschal Mystery. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen."

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Holy Thursday

5 April 2012

Today is the Feast of Holy Thursday. We remember the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and instituted the Eucharist. We also remember his prayer in Gethsemane and his betrayal by Judas. It is the first day in a 3--day liturgy known as TRIDUUM. To full participate in TRIDUUM, one must attend all 3 of it's parts: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

I have also added some links to the right with activities you might want to do with your kids over the next few days.

Today's story tells of when Judas Leaves the Last Supper.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in both Matthew 26 & John 13.

"And while they were eating, he said: “Amen I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me.” And being greatly saddened, each one of them began to say, “Surely, it is not I, Lord?” But he responded by saying: “He who dips his hand with me into the dish, the same will betray me. Indeed, the Son of man goes, just as it has been written about him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man will be betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had not been born.” Then Judas, who betrayed him, responded by saying, “Surely, it is not I, Master?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Matthew 26:21-25

"“Amen, amen, I say to you, that one among you shall betray me.”  Therefore, the disciples looked around at one another, uncertain about whom he spoke. And leaning against the bosom of Jesus was one of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved. Therefore, Simon Peter motioned to this one and said to him, “Who is it that he is speaking about?”And so, leaning against the chest of Jesus, he said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus responded, “It is he to whom I shall extend the dipped bread.” And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those sitting at table knew why he had said this to him. For some were thinking that, because Judas held the purse, that Jesus had told him, “Buy those things which are needed by us for the feast day,” or that he might give something to the needy. Therefore, having accepted the morsel, he went out immediately. And it was night."
John 13:21-30


Reading of the Day:
     Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
     Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
     1 Corinthians 11:23-26
     John 13:1-15

Collect for the Day:
"O God, who have called us to participate in this most sacred Supper, in which your Only Begotten Son, when about to hand himself over to death, entrusted to the Church a sacrifice new for all eternity, the banquet of his love, grant, we pray, that we may draw from so great a mystery, the fullness of charity and of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Wednesday of Holy Week

4 March 2012

Today's story tells of Jesus Washing the Feet of His Disciples.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in John 13.

"He rose up from the meal, and he set aside his vestments, and when he had received a towel, he wrapped it around himself. Next he put water into a shallow bowl, and he began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel with which he was wrapped. And then he came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, “Lord, would you wash my feet?” Jesus responded and said to him: “What I am doing, you do not now understand. But you shall understand it afterward.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you will have no place with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Then Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him: “He who is washed need only wash his feet, and then he will be entirely clean. And you are clean, but not all.” For he knew which one would betray him. For this reason, he said, “You are not all clean.” And so, after he washed their feet and received his vestments, when he had sat down at table again, he said to them: “Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you speak well: for so I am. Therefore, if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash the feet of one another. For I have given you an example, so that just as I have done for you, so also should you do. Amen, amen, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, and the apostle is not greater than he who sent him. If you understand this, you shall be blessed if you will do it."

Readings of the Day:
     Isaiah 50:4-9
     Psalm 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34
     Matthew 26:14-25

Collect for the Day:
" God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy, grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Monday, April 2, 2012

Tuesday of Holy Week

3 April 2012

Our story today tells of the Woman Who Anoints Jesus.
The scriptural basis for this can be found in

"Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up. And they made a dinner for him there. And Martha was ministering. And truly, Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at table with him. And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the needy?” Now he said this, not out of concern for the needy, but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to carry what was put into it. But Jesus said: “Permit her, so that she may keep it against the day of my burial. For the poor, you have with you always. But me, you do always not have.”

Readings of the Day:
     Isaiah 49:1-6
     Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17
     John 13:21-33, 36-38

Collect for the Day:
"Almighty ever-living God, grant us so to celebrate the mysteries of the Lord's Passion that we may merit to receive your pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. "

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Monday of Holy Week

2 March 2012

Our story today tells of the Stones That Would Shout.
The scritural basis for this story can be found in Luke and the Psalms.

"The stone which the builders have rejected, this has become the cornerstone." Psalm 118

"Then, as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” So they said, “Because the Lord has need of it.” And they led it to Jesus. And casting their garments on the colt, they helped Jesus onto it. Then, as he was traveling, they were laying down their garments along the way. And when he was now drawing near to the descent of Mount Olivet, the entire crowd of his disciples began to praise God joyfully, with a loud voice, over all the powerful works which they had seen, saying: “Blessed is the king who has arrived in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory on high!” And certain Pharisees within the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” And he said to them, “I tell you, that if these will keep silent, the stones themselves will cry out.” Luke 19

Readings of the Day:
    Isaiah 42:1-7
    Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14
    John 12:1-11

Collect for the Day:
"Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, though in our weakness we fail, we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

1 April 2012

Today is PALM SUNDAY.
Please refer to the link at the right for more information about this Feast.

Our story today tells of How Esther Saved Her People.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in Esther.

" And so, on the third day, Esther had put on her royal apparel and was standing in the atrium of the king’s house, which was inside, opposite the king’s hall, while he was sitting on his throne in the council room of the palace, opposite the entrance of the house. And when he saw Esther the queen standing there, she pleased his eyes, and he extended toward her the golden scepter, which he held in his hand, and she approached and kissed the top of his scepter. And the king said to her, “What do you wish, queen Esther? What is your request? Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.” But she responded, “If it pleases the king, I beg you to come with me today, and Haman with you, to the feast that I have prepared.” And immediately the king said, “Call Haman quickly, so that he may obey Esther’s will. And so the king and Haman came to the feast, which the queen had prepared for them. And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine abundantly, “What are you asking for that should be given to you? And which things do you require? Even if you request half of my kingdom, you will obtain it.” Esther answered him, “My petition and prayer is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfill my petition, let the king and Haman come to the feast which I have prepared for them, and tomorrow I will open my mind to the king.” And so Haman went out that day joyful and cheerful. And when he saw that Mordecai was sitting in front of the gate of the palace, and that he alone did not get up for him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was very indignant. But, concealing his anger and returning into his house, he gathered to him his friends and Zeresh, his wife. And he explained to them the greatness of his riches, and the influence of his sons, and how, with such glory, the king had elevated him above all his rulers and servants. And after this, he said, “Also, queen Esther has called no one else to the feast with the king, except me. And I will be dining with the king again tomorrow. And though I have all these things, I consider that I have nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in front of the king’s gate.” And Zeresh his wife and his other friends answered him, “Order a great beam to be prepared, having a height of fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, so that Mordecai may be hanged from it, and so you will go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This advice pleased him, and so he ordered a high cross to be prepared. "

Readings of the Day:
     Mark 11:1-10
     Isaiah 50:4-7
     Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
     Philippians 2:6-11
     Mark 14:1-15:47

Collect for the Day:
"Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."