Hebrews 10:12-14
Christ has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him. By virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying.
Christ the Lord, who died and rose again, is always ready to give us help. Let us trustingly pray to him:
- Victorious King, hear us.
Christ, the light and salvation of all people,
pour out the flame of your Spirit upon us as we proclaim your resurrection.
- Victorious King, hear us.
May Israel recognise in you the fulfilment of its hopes
and let all the world be filled with the knowledge of your glory.
- Victorious King, hear us.
Make us part of the communion of your saints
and let us rest from our labours in their company.
- Victorious King, hear us.
You defeated the enemy, Death. Defeat also the enemy who is within us,
let us be part of your undying victory.
- Victorious King, hear us.
Christ, our saviour, you were obedient even to death, you were raised up to the right hand of the Father.
- Victorious King, hear us.
Look kindly on your brethren and bring them to your glorious kingdom.
- Victorious King, hear us.
08 April 2007
Easter Sunday
John 20:1-9
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
07 April 2007
Holy Saturday
Hosea 6:1-3
In their affliction, they shall look for me:
"Come, let us return to the LORD,
For it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth."
In their affliction, they shall look for me:
"Come, let us return to the LORD,
For it is he who has rent, but he will heal us;
he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.
He will revive us after two days;
on the third day he will raise us up,
to live in his presence.
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD;
as certain as the dawn is his coming,
and his judgment shines forth like the light of day!
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rain that waters the earth."
05 April 2007
Maundy Thursday
Melito of Sardis: Easter homily
There was much proclaimed by the prophets about the mystery of Passover: that mystery is Christ, and to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
For the sake of suffering humanity he came down from heaven to earth, clothed himself in that humanity in the Virgin's womb, and was born a man. Having then a body capable of suffering, he took the pain of fallen man upon himself; he triumphed over the diseases of soul and body that were its cause, and by his Spirit, which was incapable of dying, he dealt man's destroyer, death, a fatal blow.
He was led forth like a lamb; he was slaughtered like a sheep. He ransomed us from our servitude to the world, as he had ransomed Israel from the land of Egypt; he freed us from slavery to the devil, as he had freed Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. He sealed our souls with his own Spirit, and the members of our body with his own blood.
He is the One who covered death with shame and cast the devil into mourning, as Moses cast Pharaoh into mourning. He is the One who smote sin and robbed iniquity of offspring, as Moses robbed the Egyptians of their offspring. He is the One who brought us out of slavery into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of death into life, out of tyranny and into an eternal kingdom; who made us a new priesthood, a people chosen to be his own for ever. He is the Passover that is our salvation.
It is he who endured every kind of suffering in all those who foreshadowed him. In Abel he was slain, in Isaac bound, in Jacob exiled, in Joseph sold, in Moses exposed to die. He was sacrificed in the Passover lamb, persecuted in David, dishonored in the prophets.
It is he who was made man of the Virgin, he who was hung on the tree; it is he who was buried in the earth, raised from the dead, and taken up to the heights of heaven. He is the mute lamb, the slain lamb, the lamb born of Mary, the fair ewe. He was seized from the flock, dragged off to be slaughtered, sacrificed in the evening, and buried at night. On the tree no bone of his was broken; in the earth his body knew no decay. He is the One who rose from the dead, and who raised man from the depths of the tomb.
There was much proclaimed by the prophets about the mystery of Passover: that mystery is Christ, and to him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
For the sake of suffering humanity he came down from heaven to earth, clothed himself in that humanity in the Virgin's womb, and was born a man. Having then a body capable of suffering, he took the pain of fallen man upon himself; he triumphed over the diseases of soul and body that were its cause, and by his Spirit, which was incapable of dying, he dealt man's destroyer, death, a fatal blow.
He was led forth like a lamb; he was slaughtered like a sheep. He ransomed us from our servitude to the world, as he had ransomed Israel from the land of Egypt; he freed us from slavery to the devil, as he had freed Israel from the hand of Pharaoh. He sealed our souls with his own Spirit, and the members of our body with his own blood.
He is the One who covered death with shame and cast the devil into mourning, as Moses cast Pharaoh into mourning. He is the One who smote sin and robbed iniquity of offspring, as Moses robbed the Egyptians of their offspring. He is the One who brought us out of slavery into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of death into life, out of tyranny and into an eternal kingdom; who made us a new priesthood, a people chosen to be his own for ever. He is the Passover that is our salvation.
It is he who endured every kind of suffering in all those who foreshadowed him. In Abel he was slain, in Isaac bound, in Jacob exiled, in Joseph sold, in Moses exposed to die. He was sacrificed in the Passover lamb, persecuted in David, dishonored in the prophets.
It is he who was made man of the Virgin, he who was hung on the tree; it is he who was buried in the earth, raised from the dead, and taken up to the heights of heaven. He is the mute lamb, the slain lamb, the lamb born of Mary, the fair ewe. He was seized from the flock, dragged off to be slaughtered, sacrificed in the evening, and buried at night. On the tree no bone of his was broken; in the earth his body knew no decay. He is the One who rose from the dead, and who raised man from the depths of the tomb.
02 April 2007
John 6-11
Sorry again for the delay! No excuse!
As much as John focuses on the deity and divinity of Jesus throughout his gospel, to me this section highlights some of Jesus’ most poignantly human moments (as do some of the other gospels). It breaks my heart to imagine him saying “Do you also want to go away?” to the twelve when so many of his other disciples had abandoned him (6:67) or to see the intensely frustrating conversation between Jesus and those who sought him only to be fed with bread that perishes, and not with the Bread of Life (6:25-57). It’s hard to know how he must have felt when he observed that not even his own brothers believed in him (7:5) or that his own people dishonored him by claiming he was possessed (8:48-59). And how deeply must he have been touched by the grief of Lazarus’ death to weep at his tomb (11:35). Truly a man of sorrows, even before his brutal death.
One of my favorite scenes from this section takes place in the temple when the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus the woman caught in adultery (8:3-11). This event is so visceral and turbulent to me. I imagine the apalled and agog crowd parting as the Pharisees dragged this probably half-naked, sobbing woman into their midst. Jesus’ calm amid such an uprorious scene stands out to me. And one of the most intriguing moments is when he stoops to write on the ground. I can’t help but wonder what he might have written. Perhaps he listed sins that some accusers had committed? Whatever it was, Jesus’ silence twice threw into stark contrast the blaring noise of the crowd. Standing only for a moment to say “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first,” and stooping again to write in the dirt... not looking up again until all of the accusers had gone. So bold and brilliant and perfect in patience! I suppose I’m basically reiterating the text, but the whole interaction is so fascinating to me!
This whole gospel is so rich in theology, and i didn't really touch on that in this entry, so that might be something to discuss further--
As much as John focuses on the deity and divinity of Jesus throughout his gospel, to me this section highlights some of Jesus’ most poignantly human moments (as do some of the other gospels). It breaks my heart to imagine him saying “Do you also want to go away?” to the twelve when so many of his other disciples had abandoned him (6:67) or to see the intensely frustrating conversation between Jesus and those who sought him only to be fed with bread that perishes, and not with the Bread of Life (6:25-57). It’s hard to know how he must have felt when he observed that not even his own brothers believed in him (7:5) or that his own people dishonored him by claiming he was possessed (8:48-59). And how deeply must he have been touched by the grief of Lazarus’ death to weep at his tomb (11:35). Truly a man of sorrows, even before his brutal death.
One of my favorite scenes from this section takes place in the temple when the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus the woman caught in adultery (8:3-11). This event is so visceral and turbulent to me. I imagine the apalled and agog crowd parting as the Pharisees dragged this probably half-naked, sobbing woman into their midst. Jesus’ calm amid such an uprorious scene stands out to me. And one of the most intriguing moments is when he stoops to write on the ground. I can’t help but wonder what he might have written. Perhaps he listed sins that some accusers had committed? Whatever it was, Jesus’ silence twice threw into stark contrast the blaring noise of the crowd. Standing only for a moment to say “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first,” and stooping again to write in the dirt... not looking up again until all of the accusers had gone. So bold and brilliant and perfect in patience! I suppose I’m basically reiterating the text, but the whole interaction is so fascinating to me!
This whole gospel is so rich in theology, and i didn't really touch on that in this entry, so that might be something to discuss further--
01 April 2007
We are soon going to share in the Passover
Gregory Naziazen: Homily
We are soon going to share in the Passover, and although we still do so only in a symbolic way, the symbolism already has more clarity than it possessed in former times because, under the law, the Passover was, if I may dare to say so, only a symbol of a symbol. Before long, however, when the Word drinks the new wine with us in the kingdom of his Father, we shall be keeping Passover in a yet more perfect way, and with deeper understanding. He will reveal to us and make clear what he has so far only partially disclosed. For this wine, so familiar to us now, is eternally new.
It is for us to learn what this drinking is, and for him to teach us. He has to communicate this knowledge to his disciples, because teaching is food, even for the teacher.
So let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way, but perfectly; not only for a time, but eternally. Let us regard as our home the heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one; the city glorified by angels, not the one laid waste by armies. We are not required to sacrifice young bulls or rams, beasts with horns and hoofs that are more dead than alive and devoid of feeling; but instead, let us join the choir of angels in offering God upon his heavenly altar a sacrifice of praise. We must now pass through the first veil and approach the second, turning our eyes toward the Holy of Holies. I will say more: we must sacrifice ourselves to God, each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the sake of the Word, imitating his passion by our sufferings, and honoring his blood by the shedding of our own. We must be ready to be crucified.
If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief, acknowledge your God. For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen. Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in his blasphemy.
If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his crucifixion, and ask for Christ's body. Make your own the expiation for the sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshiped God by night, bring spices and prepare Christ's body for burial. If you are one of the Marys, or Salome, or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.
We are soon going to share in the Passover, and although we still do so only in a symbolic way, the symbolism already has more clarity than it possessed in former times because, under the law, the Passover was, if I may dare to say so, only a symbol of a symbol. Before long, however, when the Word drinks the new wine with us in the kingdom of his Father, we shall be keeping Passover in a yet more perfect way, and with deeper understanding. He will reveal to us and make clear what he has so far only partially disclosed. For this wine, so familiar to us now, is eternally new.
It is for us to learn what this drinking is, and for him to teach us. He has to communicate this knowledge to his disciples, because teaching is food, even for the teacher.
So let us take our part in the Passover prescribed by the law, not in a literal way, but according to the teaching of the Gospel; not in an imperfect way, but perfectly; not only for a time, but eternally. Let us regard as our home the heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly one; the city glorified by angels, not the one laid waste by armies. We are not required to sacrifice young bulls or rams, beasts with horns and hoofs that are more dead than alive and devoid of feeling; but instead, let us join the choir of angels in offering God upon his heavenly altar a sacrifice of praise. We must now pass through the first veil and approach the second, turning our eyes toward the Holy of Holies. I will say more: we must sacrifice ourselves to God, each day and in everything we do, accepting all that happens to us for the sake of the Word, imitating his passion by our sufferings, and honoring his blood by the shedding of our own. We must be ready to be crucified.
If you are a Simon of Cyrene, take up your cross and follow Christ. If you are crucified beside him like one of the thieves, now, like the good thief, acknowledge your God. For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself. Derive some benefit from the very shame; purchase salvation with your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen. Contemplate the glories there, and leave the other scoffing thief to die outside in his blasphemy.
If you are a Joseph of Arimathea, go to the one who ordered his crucifixion, and ask for Christ's body. Make your own the expiation for the sins of the whole world. If you are a Nicodemus, like the man who worshiped God by night, bring spices and prepare Christ's body for burial. If you are one of the Marys, or Salome, or Joanna, weep in the early morning. Be the first to see the stone rolled back, and even the angels perhaps, and Jesus himself.
John 6-11 coming soon!
Sorry I haven't posted on this section yet-- Internet difficulties abound! I think I have everything working now, so look for an entry a little later on today!
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