Acts 4: 13-21; Psalm 118: 1 and 14-21; Mark 16: 9-15

speaking to
our hardness
of heart
our unbelief
you release
our life
from death
and give
strength
courage
mercy
and goodness
to our days
this love
available freely
to all
God’s justice…
it is impossible
not to speak
about what
we have seen
and heard

What have you seen and heard?

Acts 4: 1-12; Psalm 118: 1-27; John 21: 1-14

again
and again
you come to us
showing yourself
alive
in our lives
some mercy
some healing
some forgiveness
that speaks
of your Presence
that lives
beyond
your cross
beyond your death
a grace
that announces
aha!
yes!
this is the Christ
with us
God with us
Holy Spirit with us
this is the love
upon which we build
our lives

Upon what do you build your life?

Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2,5-9; Luke 24:25-48

opening
our minds
we see Him
alive
among us
beyond
His wounds
and death
fulfilling
a promised word
from God
that we dare
to believe
as we share
His bread
with one another
nourished
on the joy
of God’s presence
we receive
and give
the blessings
of the day

Has the Holy Spirit opened your mind?
Are you nourished by the joy of God’s presence?

Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-9; Luke 24:13-35

our hearts
are burning
and rejoicing
as we recognize
God within
and among us
sharing
wisdom
life
and bread
so that we
may not feel
abandoned
in a world
that often breeds
fear and greed
hatred and murder
He is our beautiful gate
where we return
to health
forgiven
strong
filled with faith
and love

Where is your beautiful gate?
Who meets you at the beautiful gate?

Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-22; John 20: 11-18

released
from time
and its
distortions
we see
the Holy Spirit
given
in kindness
and goodness
loving justice
and right
born from
eternity
made manifest
to each generation
we weep no more
and embrace
the goodness
of the Lord

How do you see the goodness of the Lord?

Acts 2:14:22-33; Psalm 16:1-2,5-11; Matthew 28:8-15

beyond
our understanding
He lives
risen
from any bondage
of sin
and death
living
among us
His Presence
Holy Spirit
showing us
the path of Life
we leave
our fears
and live
in the hope
mercy
and joy
of this
Easter moment

Do you live in the joy of this Easter moment?

Acts 10:34, 37-43; Ps. 118;1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4; Cor 5:6-8; John 20: 1-9

she seeks
the tomb
of her sorrow
only to find
the stone rolled away
shroud fallen
she cries
“where have they put my lord”
yet the empty tomb
answers all
for what God
has given
cannot be put
to death
Son of Man
doer of good
healer of souls
frees the oppression
and rises
in flesh and spirit
from above

compassionate judge
of the truth
in our hearts
we stretch
and reach
into the mind
of God through Him
receiving
the bread of life
we see the justice
of God’s love of all
nourishing all
and setting us free

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

How does the Risen Christ set you free?

Before the Vigil

this day
of emptiness
confusion
and longing
His agony
turned
our own
no longer
to hear His voice
feel His touch
follow His step
where has love gone?

He was our Life
our hope
our light
our answer
and now
we are lost
who are we now?

our hearts on fire
with grief
who will
console us
there are no words
for this
our sorrow

to see Him
broken
bleeding
we cry
my God
why have you
forsaken us

this day
this Life
without Him
we cannot bear
day of poverty
when we are nothing
we have nothing
filled
with emptiness
for we have seen
all Love
and now
He is gone

wrapped in His tomb
embraced in darkness
we have died with him
no light
no thought
of life

Have you felt forsaken by God?

Exodus 12:1-8; 11-14; Psalm 116:12-18; 1Cor 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Foot Washing Image by Leszek Forczk

Do this in memory of me

Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 69: 8-10,21-22,31-34; Matthew 26:14-25

faced
with inevitable
betrayal
He lets go
into a path
that many
will follow
as we carry
our cross
with Him
through
suffering
sin
and death
trusting
that the Lord
in great Love
will answer us
with new Life

Do you trust God with your suffering and death?
What is your hope?