Saturday, March 22, 2008

Alleluia! Christ Is Risen!


"The Resurrection" - Fra Angelico - San Marco Museum, Florence

Mark 16:1-8

The Resurrection of Jesus

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

PRAYER

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

RESURRECTION, IMPERFECT - by John Donne

SLEEP, sleep, old sun, thou canst not have repass'd,
As yet, the wound thou took'st on Friday last ;
Sleep then, and rest ; the world may bear thy stay ;
A better sun rose before thee to-day ;
Who—not content to enlighten all that dwell
On the earth's face, as thou—enlighten'd hell,
And made the dark fires languish in that vale,
As at thy presence here our fires grow pale ;
Whose body, having walk'd on earth, and now
Hasting to heaven, would—that He might allow
Himself unto all stations, and fill all—
For these three days become a mineral.
He was all gold when He lay down, but rose
All tincture, and doth not alone dispose
Leaden and iron wills to good, but is
Of power to make e'en sinful flesh like his.
Had one of those, whose credulous piety
Thought that a soul one might discern and see
Go from a body, at this sepulchre been,
And, issuing from the sheet, this body seen,
He would have justly thought this body a soul,
If not of any man, yet of the whole.


Desunt Caetera

Painting courtesy Christus Rex.

15 comments:

  1. Just home from vigil which was amazing!

    And this post is too. Easter Joy to you Mimi!

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  2. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

    A very blessed feast of the Resurrection to you and GP and all your family, Mimi.

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  3. Jesus is alive! A blessed and happy Easter to you all. May God's peace which passes understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and may the love of God fill your hearts to overflowing.

    DP, have a wonderful week at Vicar School.

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  4. He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!

    I was a nice acolyte this morning, but I do not think that my niceness distracted from the celebration.

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  5. Happy Easter and Saturnalia to you and yours!

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  6. KJ, I'm pleased that your niceness didn't distract from the celebration. I'm sure that you would be embarrassed to have all eyes on you, because of your outstanding niceness.

    Dennis, Happy Easter to you and David! Mwah, mwah.

    Maitri! It's great to hear from you. Happy Easter and Saturnalia back at you and yours.

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  7. Best of Easter to you.
    And I found a fellow traveller up DC way:
    http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2008/03/easter-wishes-2008.html

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  8. Jesus Christ is risen today,
    A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!
    Our triumphant holy day, A-a-a-a-a-le-e-lu-u-ia!

    Get it?

    Kishnevi, I went to see your magnificent El Greco.

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  9. Happy Easter, Grandmère Mimi. I am home at last after a full day of it. In a small parish with a small choir, Easter is a marathon--but such a beautiful marathon.
    Thank you for the John Donne. That is a nice end to this day.

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