Sunday, April 09, 2006

Meditation
Mark 14:1–15:47

Passion Sunday

Today we not only celebrate our redemption, we begin a week-long celebration of Jesus’ love. This is not a week for sorrow but for gratitude, joy, and hope.

St. Mark tells us that as Jesus breathed his last, the veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Mark 15:37-38). This veil was a thick curtain that separated the people from the holiest and most sacred portion of the Temple (Exodus 26:31-35). So by tearing this veil, God was making a powerful statement: There was no longer any separation between him and his people.

Just as the veil in the temple separated the people from the presence and holiness of God, so did a thick veil of guilt and sin hang between us and our Creator. But when Jesus died, this veil was also torn from top (heaven) to bottom (earth). The way to heaven was opened, and God’s life and love were free to flow to every one of us. Now, finally, we all can hear his voice and experience his presence personally.

This sounds so wonderful, and yet each of us has known the feeling of separation or distance from God. Veils can still shroud our lives, blocking our access to the Father’s throne. But Jesus wants to tear apart these veils during this Holy Week. He wants to remove the obstacles that still exist between us and his heavenly Father. We have only to come to him and ask. The whole reason Jesus died was so that we could gaze on his glory and be filled with his love.

So don’t mourn this week. Instead, open your heart to Jesus. Don’t be sad. Be hopeful. Be humble. Be joyful! God can remove every veil that keeps you from being transformed into his image—and he can do it this very week!

“Jesus, words fail me when I look at your cross. All I can do is praise you for your love and ask you to come and rend the veils in my life. Lord, I want to see your glory and be made more like you!”

Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9,17-20,23-24;Philippians 2:6-11

Vespers -- Evening Prayer

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 109 (110)
The Messiah, king and priest
The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool”. From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes. Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn. The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech”. The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings. He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls; he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high. 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.

Psalm 109 (110)

The Messiah, king and priest

The Lord has said to my lord: “Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool”.

From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes.
Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: “You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech”.
The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls;
he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high.

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.

Psalm 113B (115)
Praise of the true God
Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your own name give the glory, because of your kindness and faithfulness. Why should the nations say: “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens, and what he wills, he does. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, they have eyes but do not see. They have ears but do not hear, they have nostrils but do not smell. They have hands but they do not feel, they have feet but they do not walk; no voice comes from their throats. Their makers will be like them, and all who put their trust in them. The house of Israel trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. All who fear the Lord trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron – he will bless all who fear the Lord. May the Lord add to your numbers and to those of your children. May the Lord bless you, the Lord who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth he has given to men. It is not the dead who will praise you, O Lord, nor those who go down into the silence; but we, who live, will bless the Lord, now and for ever. 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.

Psalm 113B (115)

Praise of the true God

Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your own name give the glory,
because of your kindness and faithfulness.
Why should the nations say:
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
and what he wills, he does.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths but do not speak,
they have eyes but do not see.
They have ears but do not hear,
they have nostrils but do not smell.
They have hands but they do not feel,
they have feet but they do not walk;
no voice comes from their throats.
Their makers will be like them,
and all who put their trust in them.

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
The house of Aaron trusts in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.
All who fear the Lord trust in the Lord;
he is their help and their shield.

The Lord has remembered us and he will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron –
he will bless all who fear the Lord.

May the Lord add to your numbers
and to those of your children.
May the Lord bless you,
the Lord who made heaven and earth.

The heavens are the Lord’s,
but the earth he has given to men.
It is not the dead who will praise you, O Lord,
nor those who go down into the silence;
but we, who live, will bless the Lord,
now and for ever.

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.

Canticle	1 Peter 2
Christ's passion, freely chosen
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, to follow in his path. He committed no sin, in his speech there was no deceit; when they cursed him, he did not curse them; when he suffered, he did not threaten retribution, but committed them to the one just judge. He endured our sins in the sufferings of his body on the tree, so that we would die to our sins and live for righteousness – and by his bruises you have been healed. 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.

Canticle

1 Peter 2

Christ's passion, freely chosen

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, to follow in his path.

He committed no sin, in his speech there was no deceit;
when they cursed him, he did not curse them;
when he suffered, he did not threaten retribution, but committed them to the one just judge.

He endured our sins in the sufferings of his body on the tree,
so that we would die to our sins and live for righteousness –
and by his bruises you have been healed.

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.

A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.

Canticle	Magnificat
My soul rejoices in the Lord
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. 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.

Canticle

Magnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.

He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.

Prayers and Intercessions

Let us worship the Saviour of the human race. He went up to Jerusalem to suffer, so that he might enter into glory. Let us pray to him humbly, saying: - Sanctify the people you redeemed with your blood.
You are our Redeemer. Let our penance unite us to you in your Passion:: let it bring us to the glory of the Resurrection.
May your Mother, the comfort of the afflicted, give us her protection.: You console us and make us live again: may we do the same, in our turn, for those who mourn.
We have done wrong to others and made them lose their way. Look kindly on them,: give them your help and teach us to do better, so that love and justice may prevail.
You lowered yourself and were obedient even to death: death on a cross.: Let your servants be obedient also, and suffer patiently.
May the dead share in the light of your resurrection;: and may we, too, one day be united with them.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

A concluding prayer may follow here.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.

A M E N