The cross of Christ stands empty on this Holy Saturday.
In stillness, earth awaits the Resurrection while Christ goes down to wake the dead.
We patiently wait for the joy of the Resurrection.
Holy Saturday occupies a unique position within the Holy Week, nestled quietly between the sorrow of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday. It is a day marked by silence, reflection, and anticipation. We do not celebrate Mass until after the sun sets. Then the time comes for paschal joys, the abundance of which overflows to occupy fifty days of the Easter season.
This day holds a dual nature that is deeply significant to the Christian faith. It is a day of mourning, as the faithful contemplate the death of Jesus Christ. The reality of His sacrifice is felt deeply, as the events of Good Friday linger in the hearts and minds of believers. Yet, simultaneously, Holy Saturday is a day of hopeful anticipation. It represents the promise of Christ's resurrection, a cornerstone of Christian belief that light emerges from darkness, life from death.
Holy Saturday is typically a day of preparation for Easter Sunday. Churches of the Home can dye Easter Eggs, a symbol of new life, in preparation for the celebration of new life in the Resurrection.
Also, a fun cookie to make tonight to eat tomorrow morning are Resurrection Cookies, a cookie that will help your Church of the Home get a "hands-on" Bible lesson.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.
Happy Easter
from your Resurrection Parish Family
May the Easter promise of Life Eternal and Love Everlasting
bring you blessings of love, joy, and life to the fullest.
Together as the people of the Resurrection, we rejoice!
Easter, as the central feast in the Christian liturgical calendar, encompasses several profound themes that underscore its significance. These themes not only reflect on the resurrection of Jesus Christ but also on the wider implications for humanity and individual believers. Here are the key themes associated with Easter:
Renewal and Rebirth: Easter signifies a time of new beginnings, spiritual renewal, and the rebirth of faith, inviting Christians to rejuvenate their lives in the light of Christ's resurrection.
Eternal Life: The resurrection of Jesus opens the way for believers to eternal life with God, stressing the theme of hope for the future beyond death.
Joy and Celebration: Marking the joy of Jesus' resurrection, Easter is a time of celebration, characterized by joyous liturgies, music, and the proclamation of the "Alleluia," expressing the happiness of salvation.
Community and Unity: Easter brings together the Christian community in worship and celebration, emphasizing unity in Christ and the shared experience of faith and resurrection.
Transformation and Conversion: Reflecting on the transformative power of Jesus' resurrection, Easter encourages believers to turn away from sin and embrace a life transformed by God's grace.
FOR REFLECTION AS A CHURCH OF THE HOME
In what ways does the risen Christ appear in your life?
What areas of your life need transformation through the Resurrection?
How has the Resurrection brought you hope during difficult times?
What steps can you take to deepen your faith in the Resurrection?
How can you be a source of new life and hope for those around you?
How can you keep the joy of Easter alive in your heart all year round?
Where do you turn for guidance and clarity when life becomes confusing?
What practical ways can you spread the Good News of the Resurrection in your daily life?
KEEP EASTER ALIVE BEYOND SUNDAY
Once Easter Sunday has concluded, we can keep the Easter joy and happiness alive both within ourselves and our churches of the Home. Easter lasts 50 days, and it is a time of celebration not just for the day and week of Easter but every day. Lessons learned during Lent in terms of the spiritual life can be continued during the joyous time of the entire Easter season. Here are a few more ways to keep that spirit alive.
Prayer
Lent is one of the most profound liturgical seasons of prayer, but that spirit can continue through the 50 days in preparation of Pentecost and beyond. Take at least one or more of those practices, and pray each day with fervor to the Lord and for your intentions and that of others.
Celebrate New Life
Planting flowers, wearing colorful clothing, and celebrating the newness of the season is a good way to keep Easter alive in your heart and for your family. Live happily and joyfully each day knowing the resurrection of Christ is very real, and you are living it. This is not just for the Easter season; this is for every day of your life.
Keep the Almsgiving Going
Almsgiving is a wonderful to give back to God’s people. Many people do more during Lent in this way but continuing it through Easter and beyond is at the heart of God. Pray about ways to serve and to give back to others in the spirit of giving and of the joy of Easter.
Resurrection Catholic Parish Presents Day 3 of the 2024 Virtual Triduum Retreat.
Reflect with Fr. Ed Shea on Holy Saturday and Easter.
Resurrection Steps of our Lenten Journey
Daily reflections by Roger Vanden Busch on the Scripture readings for Lent
We begin our daily Lenten journey with Jesus. Along the way, we go to an “out of the way” place to encounter His presence in Readings, Reality, and Prayer.
Join us for Mass this weekend in person at 8:00 on Saturday, 8:30 or 10:30 on Sunday, on www.gbres.org/live, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook page.
READINGS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S MASSES
VIRTUALLY SUNDAY REFLECTION
Happy Easter! When we experience pain, we have two choices: to bury it or to express it in order to experience healing. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we are encouraged to not allow truth to be buried and embrace the transformative power of Easter. Let us allow the light of Easter into our souls, for Christ has risen. Join Rev. Bridget as she reflects on Easter.
Auditio Divina
Drawing upon the steps of Lectio Divina, Auditio Divina brings this ancient prayer practice into today’s world. It breaks open the lyrics of modern songs to help individuals listen with heart.
Katie and Tony break open the song "Mighty Clouds of Joy" by Al Green
for Easter Sunday.
Lyrics:
Thern old bad dreams
Been sleeping in your bed
And them old dark clouds
Been hanging around your head
But all your hard times
Will vanish in the wind
When the mighty clouds of joy
Come rolling in
Holy Jesus
Let Your love seize us
Oh, let us find sweet peace within
Hallelujah
Happiness begins
When the mighty clouds of joy
Come rolling in
Families
This Weekend's Bulletin
(click to read)
Parish Lyceum
The Parish Lyceum will feature a variety of topics, guidelines, and relevant information to nurture the PIESS of our lives – physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social.
Anointing of the Sick
Moments of Grace: Town Hall Dialogue
Fr. Tom and Tony discuss the Anointing of the Sick Moments of Grace
with Unity Hospice Chaplain Nate Spaulding.
Announcements
Ruby and Res
What will be in your Easter basket tomorrow?
Nothing as cute as this!
