READINGS

FIRST READING (We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:34a, 37-43)

Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23)

R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. (Ps 118:24)

Or Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R)

“The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (R)

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.

READINGS

FIRST READING (We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:34a, 37-43)

Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM (118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23)

R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. (Ps 118:24)

Or Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R)

“The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (R)

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R)

SECOND READING (Seek what is above, where Christ is.)

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (3:1-4)

Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Or

SECOND READING (Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough.)

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (5:6b-8)

Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

SEQUENCE

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

Christ, who only is sinless,

Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended

in that combat stupendous:

The Prince of life, who died,

reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

the glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

Bright angels attesting,

The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

To Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed

from death is risen,

our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, victor King,

ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Cor 5:7b-8a)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord. (R)

(The Gospel from the Easter Vigil may also be read in place of the following Gospels at any time of the day.)

GOSPEL (He had to rise from the dead.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (20:1-9)

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Or

SECOND READING (Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough.)

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (5:6b-8)

Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. —The Word of the Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

SEQUENCE

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

Christ, who only is sinless,

Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended

in that combat stupendous:

The Prince of life, who died,

reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

the glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

Bright angels attesting,

The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

To Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed

from death is risen,

our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, victor King,

ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia!

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (1 Cor 5:7b-8a)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord. (R)

(The Gospel from the Easter Vigil may also be read in place of the following Gospels at any time of the day.)

GOSPEL (He had to rise from the dead.)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (20:1-9)

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. —The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

“To See with the Eyes of Faith”

​From one generation to the next, the Christian community reexamines the teaching we have been handed down about the Resurrection of Jesus. Continual doctrinal explanations and biblical scholarship attempt to unravel and clarify even the smallest details of this doctrine which is the very heart of our Faith. One of the joys of witnessing in our community each year new adult candidates who present themselves for baptism and undergo a two-year course of instruction to reach this stage, or to see year after year young couples who present their children for Baptism help us to understand through their own eyes our Faith. ​

Our readings on this Easter Day present us with the story of the morning of the Resurrection from the perspective of St. John. Part of the Johannine Resurrection narrative is a phrase that is almost always overlooked or considered “unimportant.” I spoke of this a few years ago and want to repeat it again today.

John writes, “When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there…” (so far… the same as written by the Synoptic evangelists, but then a twist…) “and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial clothes, but rolled up in a separate place.”  The Greek translation of this phrase does not mean “rolled up in a ball and tossed” but rather “folded and placed.”

This leads to the question, “Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?” Did you ever notice this phrase? Did it ever cause you to wonder?

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the clothe, a piece similar to a linen napkin [tied over the head and the shroud of Jesus], was not just thrown aside like the other grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes. We know Mary Magdalene did not enter the tomb; Simon Peter was the first, even though John arrived before him. But John testifies that he stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish person knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. When the table was ready, the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. The servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was completely finished. Now, if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would roll up that napkin and toss it onto the table.The servant would then know to clear the table. The wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done.’ We in Hong Kong understand a similar meaning in the way we place the chop sticks to signal when “we have finished eating.”

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because……….. The folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’   He is Coming Back!

​A way to understand the Resurrection and its impact for us would be to look back on an iconic film of the 1930’s, “The Wizard of Oz.” If you remember the movie, when Dorothy opens the door of her Kansas home after the tornado, thinking she will see her aunt and uncle’s farmyard, the original sepia tones of the film are suddenly converted into brilliant Technicolor –this was the very first film to use this technique. The tornado-beaten earth gives way to a boldly colourful magical land, where everything is strange yet radiantly beautiful. That scene can help us understand the Resurrection and this celebration of Easter – an event that opens us to a world of mystery, inviting us to step into it.

​Another story involves a family that made a reservation at an expensive resort. They thought they had reserved – from the brochure photos) a large, bright airy room with many special amenities. But when they got to their room, they found it dark, stuffy, smaller than expected and with only a small view. The next morning they went to complain. After listening to them for a few minutes, they clerk asked them if they had opened the secondary door of the room. They admitted they hadn’t. He asked them to try that door. So, returning to their suite, they opened the door they thought was a closet – it opened to an enormous corner suite with high windows and billowing curtains overlooking the ocean and with lavish comfortable décor, fresh air and sunlight flooding the room.  

​The tourists had missed it. It was simply one door away, a door they didn’t bother to open. We can live like that. Our life here is a small room compared to the magnificent life God has in store for us. But many people don’t bother to open the door. God rolled back the stone, but we have to open the door.

​On the morning of the Resurrection, the city of Jerusalem was filled with people. Some were still asleep. Others would hear of the Resurrection later that morning, maybe they would talk about it, but it would not change their life. Even though the Resurrectiontook place some 2,000 years ago, it touches millions of believers today – including group after group of adults who are baptized in our parish during Easter. The key is FAITH. Faith unlocks the door to Christ’s presence in our life so that we can experience conversion of life and the grace and mission the Lord has in store for each of us.

​Let Easter be a renewal for your personal faith journey with Christ in and through His Church. In a world that experiences so much death – physical death, spiritual death, moral death, a culture in crisis, and now the fears and uncertainty of a life surrounded by a pandemic, here is the Lord of Life.

​The Risen Lord comes to us and utters one word: “Peace” We all have storms in our life. But Christ gives us PEACE. God has rolled back the stone. Now it is up to each of us to unlock the door of our hearts to Christ. The power of the Resurrection can be part of our life conveyed through the sacraments and rituals of the Church. At that first Easter, the stone of sin separating the world from God was rolled away. Jesus rose from the dead. But his task did not end there.

The lesson we carry on this Easter morning from the folded linen cloth is that, although the Master may have left the table, He is Coming Back!

Prayers

Celebrant: The Lord is Risen! As we rejoice at the resurrection of Our savior, we turn to our God and recall our needs and those of the Church.

READER: For the successors to the apostles, commissioned to preach to the people, that like Peter, they boldly proclaim the resurrection of Christ and the forgiveness of sins in His name, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For new believers everywhere and especially those who are baptized into our community at this time, that their witness of the resurrection be a source of joy and hope for all of us, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: May the triumph of Jesus over death be a comfort for those in distress, especially at this time of the pandemic. And may we who have been reborn in Christ live lives of hope in the light of the Risen Christ, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: May the joy of this Easter Day encourage us to grow in Christ, so that, like him, we may choose to walk in the light and reject the darkness of sin, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

READER: For the deceased members of our community, the intentions we carry in our hearts, and for all those who have asked for our prayers and who we remember now in silence, (Pause) LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.

CELEBRANT: Father, you raised Jesus to new life. Send your Spirit into our hearts that even in troubled times we may be people of hope. We ask this through Christ, our Risen Lord. (all) AMEN.