1st Reading: Gen 1:1–2:2 (or 1:1, 26-31a)
Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35
2nd Reading: Gen 22:1-18 (or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18)
Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
3rd Reading: Ex 14:15–15:1
Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18
4th Reading: Is 54:5-14
Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13
5th Reading: Is 55:1-11
Is 12:2–3, 4, 5-6
6th Reading: Bar 3:9-15, 32–4:4
Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
7th Reading: Ezk 36:16-17a, 18-28
Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4
Epistle: Rom 6:3-11*
Don’t you know, that in baptism, which unites us to Christ, we are all baptized and plunged into his death? By this baptism in his death, we were buried with Christ and, as Christ was raised from among the dead by the glory of the Father, we begin walking in a new life. (…)
Gospel: Mk 16:1-7
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint the body. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they came to the tomb.
They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they looked up, they noticed that the stone had already been rolled away. It was a very big stone.
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right, and they were amazed. But he said to them, “Don’t be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified; he has been raised and is not here. This is, however, the place where they laid him. Now go and tell his disciples and Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.”
Reflections
YOU MUST CONSIDER YOURSELVES DEAD TO SIN AND ALIVE TO GOD, IN CHRIST JESUS
On this Holy Saturday, the Church wants us to reflect on the effect of Christ’s death and resurrection on us. As we have said, Christ by his life and death had conquered sin and death for us. So what has that effect in us? Is his death of no consequence to us? Are his sufferings and death all for nothing? What a tragedy. No, his death and resurrection have enabled us also to be dead to sin and to be alive in God. Without God’s grace, it is difficult for us to avoid great temptations and to persevere in doing good and to bear the sufferings that come to us. But because of Christ’s suffering and death we are able to unite all our sufferings with his and to get from him the strength to overcome temptations and sins. But that is not all. We gain the strength and energy to REALLY LIVE, to enjoy the wonderful world God gave us, to feel the love of the people who care or us, to have the possibilities of also loving and caring for people which is what makes life worthwhile. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, THANKS BE TO GOD!
Daily Reflection 2018
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
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