We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” The greatest gift of Easter Sunday is our hearing and experiencing God’s amazing love for us. Jesus’ rising from the dead is our hope of resurrection. This amazing love of God gives us everything and never abandons us. Since that first Easter morning, we continue to celebrate the power of God to open the chains of death so that we might see life in its fullness.

John 20:1-9

Reflection The resurrection! No one saw it happen: it is too big for that. But in the resurrection of Jesus all of creation is risen, and we human beings walk ‘in newness of life’ as St Paul says. The resurrection is, in the words of Pope Benedict, a cosmic event of love, shattering death.

Peter and the other disciple, who had stood faithfully beneath the cross, run to the tomb. The other disciple saw and believed. Peter, whose last recorded action was to deny Jesus, still does not believe. What blocks me from fuller faith?

Mary was first to announce the resurrection, the first to receive the encouragement and hope that the risen Jesus offers. Others are remembered for promoting the message, for proclaiming the new truth. I take some time with Mary asking her to guide me as I wait; I pray that I may notice and take heart as I see signs of resurrection in my life.

Even at this marvellous moment, those who had been closest to Jesus did not understand the scriptures. I ask God to help me this Easter; that I may recognise where the scriptures are coming to life as I am guided by the spirit of God.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

O Risen Lord, the Way, the Truth, and the Life,Make us faithful followers of the spirit of Your Resurrection. Grant that we may be inwardly renewed, dying to ourselves in order that You may live in us. May our lives serve as signs of the transforming power of Your love. Use us as Your instruments for the renewal of society, bringing Your life and love to all, and leading them to Your Church. This we ask of You, Lord Jesus, living and reigning with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen

Liturgically speaking, Holy Saturday is the quietest day of the year – the time between Jesus’ death, and his resurrection which takes place at the Easter Vigil, technically Easter Sunday. Holy Saturday has always seemed to be such a quiet day in the midst of a very busy week – especially when I try to put myself into the shoes of the apostles, who would have distinctly felt the emptiness and loneliness of Jesus’ death most profoundly. The following is the text of an ancient homily from Holy Saturday as found in the Liturgy of the Hours – and is one of the most beautiful explanations to contemplate in the silence of this day:

What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam’s son. The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise. ‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image. ‘See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you. ‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God. “The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”

We have reached the Sacred Triduum. Today we commemorate Maundy Thursday. O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of man, you did not come to be served, but to serve. Give us the grace to lay aside all our vanity, clothe us with your power, and crown us with your humility, that finally, in the glory of serving, we may stand beside your throne, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Gospel: (John 13: 1-15)

Let us ponder on some of the highlights of today’s Gospel 1. Jesus washes Judas’ feet. Knowing that Judas is shortly going to betray him, Jesus still washes his feet. After that, is there anyone whom I can justifiably not love, or serve? 2. Jesus is facing his 'hour'. He has no illusions about what lies ahead, of what would be involved in 'departing from this world'. But all his thought is for his disciples; he wants to give them an example of how they should live - in loving service. 3. Jesus tells his disciples that, unless he washes them, they can have no part or fellowship with him. Such fellowship is brought about in the Eucharist. His cleansing of them is done, so that they can be fully united with him. It is the start of something greater. 4. Jesus knows who he is - where he has come from, where he is going. He is teaching his disciples that their true identity is to be servants of one another in his image. 5. Maundy Thursday is also a day of births. The Church, Eucharist, and consecrated priesthood began on this day.

Life Lessons from these highlights: 1. Peter valued his independence; stoutly rejecting Jesus’ ‘unnecessary’ act of humble service. Help me, Lord, graciously to allow myself to be served and to recognize you in those who care for me. 2. Jesus loved his own 'to the end', without limits. Where do I place limits on my love of others? 3. Jesus says, ‘Later you will understand.’ Sometimes that's not enough for me! I want to understand now. Help me, Jesus, to live as you did even when I don’t fully comprehend what you are asking of me. 4. Jesus’ instruction - to do to others what he does to us - was not intended to stop at the Church door. How can I bear witness to a servant God in my life today? 5. Jesus is both Teacher and Lord, and should be regarded as such. But he is also a humble servant. His disciples need to be the same, wise and ever assisting.

Let us conclude with the Love prayer by St. John Maria Vianney. I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life. I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally. My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.