EASTER SUNDAY
12th April 2020


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Yet another Easter is has come. But a totally different one. We will make memory of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ confined into our own houses. There is no church gatherings, no new fire or light, no procession, no blessing of Easter candle and obviously no drinks and socialisation after mass. (Most of which I will be doing privately taking you all along with me to the celebration and to the altar).

When we read the gospel for Easter vigil we come across a very interesting theme. "GO AND TELL", first said by the angel to the women who came to visit the tomb of Jesus and then said by Jesus to the same women. Both Marys were entrusted with a mission to go and proclaim the resurrection of Christ. You came looking for Christ who is dead, but you have now seen that he is risen and therefore go and proclaim that good news. Give those saddened by the tragedies they face in their life, the hope of resurrection. The message that we are to overcome everything even death itself.

This message is very much meaningful in this time of pandemic. Many are facing tragedies and difficulties in life in this time. We should be able to go and tell them the message of hope, the message of risen Christ. We read and listen regularly to the good news that much of the world is now turning back to Christ to gain hope. They proclaim him as the only saviour in this bad times. As Christians we should give witness to that faith, we should proclaim it by all the means available at our disposal even though we are confined to the four walls of our own houses.

So my dear brothers and sisters, let this Easter be a time of hope for ourselves and at the same time an opportunity to spread that message of hope to anyone we come across. God bless you all.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter and good health. May the blessings of risen Christ fill you with hope. God bless you all.

SEND O LORD, HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH.

Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ


Notices:

Readings for Easter Vigil, Cycle A

First Reading
Genesis 1:1-2:2 (shorter form: Genesis 1:1,26-31a)
God creates the heavens and the earth.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 104:1-2,5-6,10,12-14,24,35 or Psalm 33:4-7,12-13,20-22
A song of praise to God, the Creator

Second Reading
Genesis 22:1-18 (shorter form: Genesis 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18)
God puts Abraham to the test.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 16:5,8-11
The Lord shows us the path of life.

Third Reading
Exodus 14:15-15:1
The Israelites pass through the Red Sea.

Responsorial Psalm
Exodus 15:1-6,17-18
The song of praise that the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea

Fourth Reading
Isaiah 54:5-14
The Lord promises to redeem Israel.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13
A prayer of thanksgiving for redemption

Fifth Reading
Isaiah 55:1-11
A call to return to the Lord who is merciful

Responsorial Psalm
Isaiah 12:2-6
The Lord sends his Salvation.

Sixth Reading
Baruch 3:9-15,32-4:4
Israel is told to follow the way of God's commandments.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19:8-11
A prayer of praise for God's commandments

Seventh Reading
Ezekiel 36:16-17a,18-28
The Lord will cleanse Israel for the sake of his holy name.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 42:3,5; 53:3-4 or Isaiah 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6 or Psalm 51:12-15,18-19
A prayer of praise for God who saves us

Epistle
Romans 6:3-11
Those who have been baptized have died with Christ.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23
God's mercy endures forever.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 28:1-10
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who carry the message that Jesus has risen and will meet his disciples in Galilee.

The Good Friday Collection for the Holy Places, mandated by the Holy See, will now take place on the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.


LITURGY OF THE WORD IN THE LOCKDOWN

Fr Adrian Graffy has prepared two talks considering the first two readings from the Old Testament in the Liturgy of the Word at the Easter Vigil. The first talk, 'Easter Genesis', examines the first chapter of Genesis, and, with reference to Laudato Si of Pope Francis, points to the relevance of the text for today. The talk on 'the Binding of Isaac' in Genesis 22, the second reading, opens up reflections on a difficult text, which, as well as providing insights into the paschal mystery, also has something to offer for inter-faith relations.

https://www.whatgoodnews.org/faith-talks

Specific links to each talk:

https://www.whatgoodnews.org/faith-talks-1/2020/4/6/easter-genesis

https://www.whatgoodnews.org/faith-talks-1/2020/4/6/the-binding-of-isaac


Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died