Our Salvations: I want to encourage all of us to attend the Sacred Triduum, beginning this evening with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, as we give thanks to God for how we are saved through Jesus Christ. He saves us because He loves us! It’s the greatest love story of all time.
Holy Thursday: Tonight, we celebrate the Last Supper in which Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and became our Passover lamb. The readings are splendid. The first reading is from Exodus, which tells us how the Jewish people were saved from slavery in Egypt as God desires them to worship and go to the promised land. Each Jewish family had to take an unblemished male lamb, sacrifice it, put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and then, and this is very important, had to eat the flesh of the lamb (Exodus 12). In the second reading, St. Paul explains how Christ is the Passover lamb. In the time of Jesus, thousands of lambs were sacrificed for their sins. Every family brought a lamb to the Temple, where the lambs were sacrificed by slitting their throats. The blood was collected in gold and silver basins and sprinkled upon the altar in the Temple. Then the lamb was taken outside the temple where it was skinned and skewered and then taken to their homes to be roasted and eaten with the unleavened bread. A little fun tidbit…when the lamb was skinned and skewered, it was done with wood in the shape of the cross. So, one could see thousands of people carrying on their shoulders the sacraficial lamb, slain and skewered on a wooden cross—much like Jesus when he carried and died on the cross.
Proclamation: When St. John the Baptist saw Jesus, he told his followers, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
FORMED: If you have time, please learn more about the days of Holy Week on FORMED.ORG. I especially enjoyed the talk on Holy Thursday from Dr. Brant Pitre. I think he is an outstanding scripture scholar and helps us really appreciate our beautiful faith. Our diocese covers the cost of the subscription to FORMED.ORG.
Thanksgiving I: As we celebrate the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood this evening, I want to thank all our priests for their sacrificial love in serving all of us.
Thanksgiving II: I am grateful to the hundreds of people throughout our diocese who are joining the Church at the Easter Vigil this year. Praying for all of you!
Did you know I: The Feast of the Annunciation usually falls on March 25, but since that day was during Holy Week, the Church will observe the Feast of the Annunciation on Monday, April 8.
Did you know II: Ancient traditions believe in the significance of March 25, as this date is attributed to the following events: 1) The Creation of the World 2) The Sacrifice of Abraham 3) The Crucifixion of Christ and 4) The Annunciation.
Diaconate: On Saturday, April 6, at 10 am at the Cathedral, Jesse Ochs, Adam Urban and Kade Megaffin will be ordained transitional deacons. All are welcome to attend.
Mercy: Divine Mercy Sunday is April 7. Several of our parishes will be celebrating this feast. I pray that all people may experience God’s mercy in a special way. Jesus told St. Faustina, “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of grace upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice.” The Divine Mercy novena appropriately begins every year on Good Friday. You can learn more about praying the novena HERE.
Happy Easter to you and your families.
With my love and prayers,
Bishop Vincke
Inspiration from the Saints:
Please enjoy the Easter homily below from St. John Chrysostom.
Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaias foretold this when he said, “You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.