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With Holy Saturday we conclude the discipline of the Lenten season and begin the joyful celebration of the Resurrection.  You have traveled the road of discipline to arrive at a glorious destination.  May your life show forth the resurrection joy won for you by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.  A blessed Easter to you.

 

SATURDAY OF HOLY WEEK

March 22, 2008

The Conclusion of the Lenten Discipline

 

OPENING PRAYER

Almighty and eternal God, you created all things in wonderful beauty and order.  Help us now to perceive how still more wonderful is the new creation by which, in the fullness of time, you redeemed your people through the sacrifice of our passover, Jesus Christ, who lives and rules forever.  Amen.

 

READING I:  Hebrews 4:14-16

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 

READING II:  Romans 8:1-11

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do:  by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law--indeed, it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

    But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

 

READING III:  An Ancient Homily

    What is happening?  Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages.  God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.  Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.  He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.  The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross.  When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all; "My Lord be with you all."  And Christ in reply says to Adam:  "And with your spirit."  And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying;  "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."  "I am your God, who, for your sake, became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison:  come forth, and those in darkness:  Have light, and those who sleep:  rise."  "I command you:  Awake sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld.  Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead.  Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image.  Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person."

 

CLOSING PRAYER

O night that is brighter than day,

O night more dazzling than the sun,

O night more sparkling than fresh snow,

O night more brilliant than all our lamps!

O night that is sweeter than Paradise,

O night delivered from darkness,

O night that dispels the sleep of sin,

O night that makes us keep vigil with the angels

O night terrible for the demons,

O night desired by all the year,

O night that leads the bridal Church to her Spouse,

O night that is mother to those enlightened!

O night in which the Devil, sleeping, was despoiled,

O night in which the Heir brings the co-heirs to their heritage! 

    Amen.

        Asterius of Pontus  (341 - c. 400)

 

THE LENTEN FAST CONCLUDES IN GLORIOUS VICTORY

CHRIST IS RISEN!  ALLELUIA!

HE IS RISEN, INDEED!  ALLELUIA!