'Dear Lord, I am so lonely. It is lockdown, and my life is in difficulty. [Here name your difficulties silently to Jesus].
I feel so alone, abandoned and weary.
I ask you to bless me in a special way. Please help me with the hope and strength I need.
I know that you, too, drank from the cup of loneliness and fear. And yet, through perseverance and trust in the Father, You won through to the glorious Resurrection.
Help me, too, on my road.
I ask You, through this Prayer Chapel, to flood my heart with reassurance and Your Love.
I beg you to give me renewed hope and strength on my path.
Amen.'
Jesus;'Dear child,
You are always loved. I would have come into this world for you - you, alone.
I would have walked life's pathways, travels and difficulties for you - you, alone.
I would have suffered my loneliness in the Garden of Gethsemane for you - you, alone.
You are unutterably precious.
You are my child, I am your Good Shepherd and never, never, will I leave you.
Be at peace, and rest within my strength.
I will never fail you.
It is no mistake that you are reading these words; I, the Good Shepherd, am always waiting for my children.
And when you feel that all is most lost, why, then it is that my Light shines brightest through the darkness, fear, loneliness and sorrow.
Remember that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Light the love of your heart for Him as your candle, to remind yourself of this glorious fact.
Priest: "The Easter Vigil begins in darkness. The darkness of the tomb is split open as the Light of the world resurrects and pours life-giving light to the whole world.
O God, grant that our hearts may be purified by your beloved Son Jesus Christ.
We offer You our love and praise in honour of so glorious a gift to our world,
Amen."
EASTER VIGIL READING
Mark 16
The Resurrection
16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
The Great Commission
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
BAPTISM
If you have been baptized, here quietly renew your promises to Jesus to continue practising holiness in your life, and to be faithful to Him.
If you have been baptized, and fallen away from your faith, why then, just renew your baptismal promises and start all over again.
If you have never been baptized, why not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour?
He truly is the Son of God, and is waiting for you. Invite joy into your life and accept Him. Seek baptism.
Here is a chapel for accepting Jesus Christ into your life:
Priest: "Let us thank God for the holy men and women who have gone before us, showing that it is possible to reach the holiness God desires for us. Let us remember our holy ones."
Congregation: "We remember you, our holy family in heaven."
If you do not have holy water, pour some water into a bowl. Sprinkle a little salt in it if you have some. Ask the Lord to bless the water and make it holy. Now you have your own holy water!
The priest blesses the water, and sprinkles the congregation with it.
We remember that Jesus is the Water of Life and brings us to holiness through baptism.
WE NOW REJECT OUR ANCIENT ENEMY SATAN
Priest: "Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God's children?'
Congregation: "I do."
Priest: "Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?"
Congregation: "I do."
Priest: "Do you reject satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?"
Congregation: "I do."
WORDS OF COMFORT "She sat stitching at night, straining her eyes in the flickering of the candle. It did not matter. What mattered was that her Son would have clothing which would keep Him covered, warm in winter, cool in summer.
So she wove a garment all in one piece. And now soldiers quarrelled over the garment as her Son hung dying on the cross. The clothes which Mary had made with such love and devotion had become the blood spattered remnants of a condemned criminal.
With every stitch Mother Mary had placed in the cloth, with every step of the weaving, she was not merely making a tunic.
Every stitch was her saying, 'I love you.'
Therein lies a parable for us all on this wondrous Easter night. Mary showed her love for her Son, our beloved Savior, by stitching, cooking, caring, loving. It is the little things which really matter, after all.
Not all of us are called to actions which stand before the world as acts of public greatness. All of us are called however to do little things in a spirit of love and nobility.
When Jesus was dying upon the cross, He made His last will and testament. He left what was most precious to Him to His follower John. Jesus entrusted the care of His Mother Mary to John, so she would not be left poverty stricken and alone.
She would have, in effect, another son to care for her.
As Jesus died, He showed what was most important to Him.
Not a palace. Not property. Not heirlooms, nor silver, or gold.
But relationship built on love. Jesus prizes love above all.
How many of us can say the same? When God calls us home to heaven, what quick arrangements would we wish to make? Would they regard a house, payment of mortgage, who to leave a ring to, or who will inherit our personal possessions?
Or would we, like Christ, treasure love and our relationships above all?
This Easter night, let us look to our lives and examine our values as closely as Mary looked at her stitches. Do we have love in our hearts? Do we treasure others? Do we let others know that we truly care?
This way of love and compassion has its price. Sometimes others do not value us despite our love. Well, then, we simply walk in the same path of suffering and misunderstanding Jesus did. Be brave, dear soul. Be brave enough to love as Jesus did. Value relationships above all, enough to 'love your neighbour as yourself', and to love and honor others by being faithful to the Ten Commandments.
During this sorrowful time of the Coronavirus pandemic, many of us have time on our hands during lockdown to take a fresh look at our lives and values. As our brothers and sisters come before the Throne of God as we mourn them, as noble people battle the invisible enemy, we look anew at our lives. Are our values godly? Are there areas of our lives which need to be washed in the precious Blood of the Lamb? If so, perhaps you will find peace and comfort from visiting the Chapel of Repentance:
As we mourn the loss of so many lives during this extraordinary time, we draw comfort from the fact that we will meet again in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus won for us the way to eternal life. This Easter night, let us turn to the Christ of the Resurrection to pray for all our brothers and sisters who have left this world due to the Coronavirus. May they rest in peace, Amen."
THE EUCHARIST Priest; "As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it. He gave it to His disciples, saying; "Take all you, and eat. This is My Body, which is broken for you." Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life." Priest; "At the end of supper, Jesus took the cup. He gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, all of you, and drink; this is My Blood of the new covenant, Which is shed for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of Me." ' Congregation; "Lord Jesus, You are the cup of life, the wine blessed for our salvation." [Receive communion. If you are unable to attend Holy Mass, receive Jesus spiritually within your heart and soul now. Spend some time in prayer. Let us pray for all affected by the Coronavirus]. LORD'S PRAYER Priest; "Let us now pray the Lord's prayer in the words Jesus gave us." Priest and Congregation; 'Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done One earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day Our daily bread, And forgive us our sins, As we forgive those who sin against us, And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen." PRAYER AND BLESSING Priest; "Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for sending us Your only Son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice in His Resurrection. This night the tomb is robbed of death, and is empty! There is Light in the midst of our darkness! We have been fed by the Word and given new life in the waters of baptism. We have been given renewed life in the Eucharist, and receive life from Jesus our Lord. We ask for Your blessing as we go forth to witness to the world the truth that JESUS CHRIST IS THE RISEN SON OF GOD!" Congregation; "Amen. ALLELUIA!"
In this service we remember and honor the final hours of the Life of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah Who left His Glory in heaven in order to break humanity's slavery to sin.
He opened the way for us to once more enter loving relationship with the Father, and to gain eternal citizenship in heaven.
Let us pray during this Vigil in remembrance of the sufferings of Christ. Let us give Him our love and honor.
In the reading of the Passion story, we participate symbolically in Christ's descent into death.
WELCOME
At this time the entire world is reeling under the pandemic of the Coronavirus. We pray that Jesus Christ, Who carried the weight of the sin of the entire world upon His Shoulders, will bring comfort to the sorrowing, strength to those ministering, and eternal life for those who have come before the Throne of God.
The reading of the Passion of Jesus Christ. During these readings we remember the events which took place in the last hours of Jesus' Life on earth.
Let us never forget the price Our Saviour paid for us: so deep is His Love.
READINGS:
THE LAST SUPPER
St Luke Chapter 22, verses 14 to 16
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
St Luke Chapter 22, verses 19 to 20
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
THE BETRAYAL
St John, Chapter 13, verses 21 to 30
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
THE DENIAL
St Mark, Chapter 14, verses 27 to 31
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
THE AGONY St Mark, Chapter 14, verses 32 to 46 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Jesus Arrested
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him.
THE TRIAL St Luke, Chapter 22, verses 52 to 53 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
THE VERDICT St Matthew, Chapter 27, verses 15 to 26 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” 25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
THE CROSS St Mark, Chapter 15, verses 21 to 39 21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews. 27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.[28] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,30 come down from the cross and save yourself!”31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
THE TOMB
St John, Chapter 19, verses 38 to 42 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
SILENCE Spend some time in silence. Let us remember all our brothers and sisters throughout the world at this time of pandemic. Let us pray for all.
COMMUNION Receive communion. If you cannot attend a service, receive Jesus in your heart. If this is your first time to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you wish to receive Him as your personal Saviour, you can do so at the following link: http://churchinterfaith.blogspot.co.za/2016/06/how-to-receive-jesus-christ-as-your.html FINAL WORD We remember that the tragedy and sorrow of Good Friday is not the end. This sad day leads towards the glorious Easter Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ Who triumphed over our real enemies - satan, illness, death and the long estrangement from our Father God. Let us go forward in peace and silence to be the best people we can be in honor of Our Savior Who showed us the way - He did not kill, He did not take revenge, He did not slander, He did not hurt. He just LOVED. Let us do the same . . . Go in peace from this blessed service to love and serve the LORD. Spend as much time in prayer this sacred night as you wish. During this time let us pray for all affected by the Coronavirus.
