Opening Prayer
- God, come to my aid. - Lord, make haste to help me. - Glory be to the Father... - As it was in the beginning... Alleluia.
Introduction: A New Humanity
The death of Jesus did not end his assumption of our human nature but was the beginning of God's adventure: to have all humanity share in his divinity.
Jesus returns to the Father, still with his human nature, but transformed to divinity. This reality was interpreted in terms of "resurrection": the mysterious continuation beyond death of what was the essence of human life, experienced as fullness of life. But the ultimate goal remained to be achieved: the birth of a new humanity by the power of the Spirit who resurrected Jesus. And this is what those who accepted the message of Jesus experienced in faith: the presence in them of the Spirit who enabled them to live life to the full and to believe in the freedom of God.
In Christ's resurrection, all creation, energized by the Spirit, was ready for its journey home to share in the divinity of Christ.
Reflection on the presence of the Holy Spirit in me
Hymn of your choice
Sing to the Lord of earth and heaven who has conquered death in deep sorrow. Sing to the Lord who rises and invites us to struggle and to celebrate. Sing to Jesus, Son of man, for God has already given him a human name.
Sing to Jesus who is the strongest, who cannot be defeated even by death. Sing and dance for joy because the night is over, and it is day. Sing to the Lord who rises and invites us to struggle and to celebrate.
Silent adoration.
Hymn to the Immolated Lamb who was slain: Rev. 5: 9,10,12,13.
The Lamb receives from God a document closed by seven seals which contains the wonderful message of salvation that God, in his design of love, has prepared for humanity. Only the Lamb is capable of carrying out this design. The choir of angels and elders acclaims the choice made by God in entrusting to the Lamb its realization.
“Worthy are you to receive the scroll and to break open its seals, for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.” “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” Then every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cried out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”
Silence for meditation.
Reread the Song and, joining the choir of elders, angels and all creatures of the earth, sing praises to the Holy God and to the Lamb who from His love made all things new.
A Reading from the Letter to the Romans (5, 1-5).
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Silence for reflection.
Peace with God, God's favor, hope, are fruits of God's love incarnate in Christ. Do you experience them in your life of faith? Do you face life with optimism, knowing that God loves you?
Petitions.
For the Church, that with her joy she may give persevering witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ....
That in the midst of trials we may discover the strength of the living Christ and see our path illuminated....
That we may live in harmony with our faith and hope....
For the poor, the afflicted, the sick and the dying, that they may see their hope strengthened in Christ the conqueror of death.
Add your own petitions…
Our Father
Closing Prayer
Father, by the resurrection of your Son we have passed from darkness to light; grant that we may walk as new people abandoning our old life of sin. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
