Sunday<\/p>\n
Holy Saturday Evening \u2013 Easter Sunday Morning<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Mark 16:1-8<\/em>. The lamentations of the previous night are repeated and the church is plunged into darkness to symbolise the despair and defeat experienced before the dawn of Christ\u2019s victory over the Enemy of our salvation. Precisely at midnight, a single light emerges from the altar representing the victory of Christ over death, the defeat of the Prince of Darkness by Jesus, the Light of the World. As the light is passed from person to person, it pushes back the darkness of the church and defeats it completely. The Resurrection is proclaimed in song and triumphant procession, and after the Liturgy, its light is carried into our homes so that they too might be filled with its light and warmth and triumph.<\/p>\n Easter Sunday Morning<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0John 20:19-25<\/em>. Christ\u2019s Resurrection and victory is affirmed in this morning\u2019s theme. The Gospel is read in several languages to illustrate the universality of the Good News of the Resurrection and its proclamation to the very ends of the earth. Love, forgiveness, reconciliation, triumph and joy\u2013these are the gifts which we receive because Christ lived and died and triumphed for our sake.<\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowing life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Monday The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>until the day in which [a<\/a>]<\/sup>He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many [b<\/a>]<\/sup>infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.<\/span><\/p>\n 4\u00a0<\/sup>And being assembled together with them,<\/i> He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, \u201cwhich,\u201d<\/span> He said,<\/i> \u201cyou have<\/span> heard from Me;<\/span> <\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>for John truly baptized with water,<\/span> but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.\u201d<\/span> <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, \u201cLord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?\u201d <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And He said to them, \u201cIt is not for you to<\/span> know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.<\/span> <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>But you shall receive power<\/span> when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and<\/span> you shall be<\/span> [c<\/a>]<\/sup>witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and<\/span> Samaria, and to the<\/span> end of the earth.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 9\u00a0<\/sup>Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>who also said, \u201cMen of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same<\/i> Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.<\/p>\n Tuesday 12\u00a0<\/sup>Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day\u2019s journey. <\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son<\/i> of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son<\/i> of James. <\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>These all continued with one [d<\/a>]<\/sup>accord in prayer [e<\/a>]<\/sup>and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n 15\u00a0<\/sup>And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the [f<\/a>]<\/sup>disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, <\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cMen and<\/i> brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; <\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 18\u00a0<\/sup>(Now this man purchased a field with the [g<\/a>]<\/sup>wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his [h<\/a>]<\/sup>entrails gushed out. <\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)<\/span><\/p>\n 20\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor it is written in the Book of Psalms:<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018Let his dwelling place be<\/span> [i<\/a>]<\/sup>desolate,<\/span><\/span> and,<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018Let another take his<\/span> [j<\/a>]<\/sup>office.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 21\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTherefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, <\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 23\u00a0<\/sup>And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. <\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>And they prayed and said, \u201cYou, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen <\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.\u201d <\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.<\/span><\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 Holy angel of the Lord by guardian, pray to God for me.<\/p>\n Wednesday When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a<\/a>]<\/sup>with one accord in one place. <\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. <\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Then there appeared to them [b<\/a>]<\/sup>divided tongues, as of fire, and one<\/i> sat upon each of them. <\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.<\/span><\/p>\n 5\u00a0<\/sup>And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. <\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. <\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, \u201cLook, are not all these who speak Galileans? <\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>And how is it that<\/i> we hear, each in our own [c<\/a>]<\/sup>language in which we were born? <\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, <\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, <\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>Cretans and [d<\/a>]<\/sup>Arabs\u2014we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.\u201d <\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, \u201cWhatever could this mean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 13\u00a0<\/sup>Others mocking said, \u201cThey are full of new wine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 Our Father, Who art in \u00a0Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.<\/p>\n Thursday 14\u00a0<\/sup>But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, \u201cMen of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. <\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only<\/i> [e<\/a>]<\/sup>the third hour of the day. <\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:<\/span><\/p>\n 17\u00a0<\/sup>\u2018And<\/span> it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,<\/span><\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cMen of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know\u2014 <\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you [f<\/a>]<\/sup>have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; <\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>whom God raised up, having [g<\/a>]<\/sup>loosed the [h<\/a>]<\/sup>pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. <\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>For David says concerning Him:<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018I foresaw the<\/span> Lord<\/span> always before my face,<\/span><\/span> Prayer:\u00a0 O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.<\/p>\n Friday
\nWe begin reading highlights from the book of Acts\u00a0 written by St Luke as an account of the early days of the Church<\/p>\n
\nActs 1:<\/p>\n
\nAnd let no one live in it\u2019<\/span>;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nActs 2:<\/p>\n
\nActs 2:<\/p>\n
\nThat I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;<\/span><\/span>
\nYour sons and<\/span> your daughters shall prophesy,<\/span><\/span>
\nYour young men shall see visions,<\/span><\/span>
\nYour old men shall dream dreams.<\/span><\/span>
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>And on My menservants and on My maidservants<\/span><\/span>
\nI will pour out My Spirit in those days;<\/span><\/span>
\nAnd they shall prophesy.<\/span><\/span>
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>I will show wonders in heaven above<\/span><\/span>
\nAnd signs in the earth beneath:<\/span><\/span>
\nBlood and fire and vapor of smoke.<\/span><\/span>
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>The sun shall be turned into darkness,<\/span><\/span>
\nAnd the moon into blood,<\/span><\/span>
\nBefore the coming of the great and awesome day of the<\/span> Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>And it shall come to pass<\/span><\/span>
\nThat<\/i> whoever calls on the name of the<\/span> Lord<\/span><\/span>
\nShall be saved.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nFor He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.<\/span><\/span>
\n26\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;<\/span><\/span>
\nMoreover my flesh also will rest in hope.<\/span><\/span>
\n27\u00a0<\/sup>For You will not leave my soul in Hades,<\/span><\/span>
\nNor will You allow Your Holy One to see<\/span> corruption.<\/span><\/span>
\n28\u00a0<\/sup>You have made known to me the ways of life;<\/span><\/span>
\nYou will make me full of joy in Your presence.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nActs 2:<\/p>\n