He is Risen
Easter Sunday Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter (C)
The Resurrection of the Lord
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 24:1-12 - At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
(“The Paschal Homily” – by St. John Chrysostom – 407 AD)
If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. / If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord. / If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense…
He that was taken by death has annihilated it! / He descended into Hades and took Hades captive! / He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed: "Hades was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower region”…
O death, where is thy sting? / O Hades, where is thy victory? / Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! / Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! / Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! / Christ is risen, and life reigns! / Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb! / For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the firstfruits of them that have slept. / To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages. / Amen. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paschal Homily)
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
(Consider saying special prayers on Easter Sunday.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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