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EASTER SUNDAY – DIMANCHE DES PAQUES
LENT 2015
ICCG Europe / ICCS EuroMed Regions
Gospel from Jn 20:1-9
“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.’
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”
Gospel from Lk 24:13-35
“Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, ‘What are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?’ And he replied to them, ‘What sort of things?’ They said to him, ‘The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.’ And he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?’ So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, ‘The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!’ Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
FLOOR TO THE WITNESSES
It is a pleasure to have here with us two direct witnesses who followed Jesus during His life. They accompanied us through all the Lenten journey and each Sunday they told us their feelings and thoughts concerning the Sunday Gospel. This Easter Sunday, if we liked their company, we could as well pray them to continue accompanying us, to help us growing in faith as it happened to them. Let us give them the floor:
PETER
The days after Jesus’ resurrection marked my return to LIFE!
It happened to me just what happens to a caterpillar: there comes a time when he starts creating his cocoon. My cocoon was my terrible fear: every minute, I thought that the guards were around the corner and that they would come and get me. If I closed my eyes I saw myself being put to death on the cross just like Jesus and I lived those hours in pure terror.
Then the caterpillar finds the courage to come out of his cocoon and he discovers that he has become a wonderful butterfly. Then I found the courage to run to the tomb and discover that Jesus had risen, He had won His, our battle against sin and evil. Then the Holy Spirit would give me the courage, He would lift up my faith and convert it in a wonderful butterfly that would enable me to accept everything in the name of Jesus, even martyrdom!
MARY
The days after Jesus’ resurrection marked my return to LIFE!
My heart always told me that everything could just not be over like that. My faith in God and in my Son was a spark that never vanished in my soul and made it possible for me to survive to such an unnatural thing like the death of a child. My new mission, entrusted to me by my Son Himself, when I was under the cross, forced me to open up to life again: how could I abandon all of my newly acquired children in Christ, His brothers and sisters? They were lost, fearful, hopeless. I had to be there near them, as I would be forever, as a living example that nothing is impossible to God if we just ask Him, that one needs to decide to abandon himself to God’s mercy and love, because faith can truly change our life for the best and is the path to true happiness. This has always been my message: come on, allow your soul to express your faith, just decide to let yourselves be loved and you will be happy forever!
FOOD FOR THE MIND
JESUS IS RESURRECTING TODAY
I thought that Jesus was dead,
but I saw Him today kissing a leper.
I thought that His name was forgotten,
but I heard it today from the mouth of a child.
I thought that His merciful hands were nailed to the cross,
but I saw Him today healing a bruise.
I thought that His feet were pierced on the cross,
but I saw Him today walking near the poor.
I thought that He died again under the bombs,
but I heard Him today talking of peace.
I thought that His fraternal voice had been suffocated,
but I heard Him today saying:
“Why do you do it, brother?” to one who was beating up another.
I thought that Jesus was dead in the heart of mankind
and sank into oblivion,
but I understood that Jesus is resurrecting today
every time that a person shows his/her mercy to another person.
L. Cammaroto
FOOD FOR HANDS
ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES
Now let us practice some activities that will lead you to celebrate Easter. You may decide to start with them, and then introduce the poem presented above.
FOR THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS
Treasure Hunt: looking for You!!!
Theme of the game: We are seekers of Jesus.
Start with a sketch/PowerPoint presentation on the challenge to find Jesus because we lost our Friend, our Guide. The attractions of the world made us loose sight of Him.
Symbol: a lit lantern, to find our way to Him.
Divide children in three teams.
They will have to form a key word:
· PRAYER
· SHARING
· SACRIFICE
Each team will get one or more letters of a key work after each game they will have to do to conquer them.
Here are some examples of games you can use:
· Decoding a coded message
· Word scramble Anagramma
· Questions on our faith (run by a leader)
· Riddle
· Make a sketch of a parable (run by a leader)
· Relay race with eggs (run by a leader)
· MAP à last step of the game. Each map must lead to the final meeting place (in the chapel/church or other place)
The leaders holding games must dress up according to the game:
· A leader dressed up as an old wise man will offer his riddles in a hidden and dark place. He will ask children to sit around a lantern and will be able to leave only after solving all the riddles.
· A leader dressed up as a severe teacher will be asking questions on the faith (and put notes…).
· A leader dressed up as an actor might ask the children to stage a parable.
You may conclude the game in the chapel. Each team will compose its key word.
With a short reflection, leaders will place a symbol near the word:
Sharing à A piece of bread
Prayer à A Bible and a rosary
Sacrifice à a piggybank
Do not forget to bring the lantern in the chapel if you used it for the game.
At the end, explain that sharing, prayer and sacrifice have been guiding teams to find the treasure, Jesus in the chapel. In the same way, they have to be keys to find God in our everyday’s life.
Behind the altar you may place a basket with small Easter eggs for winners and participants.
FOR YOUNG MEMBERS
JESUS’ EASTER
Aim: With the help of the Gospel create a map or a plastic model of the places in Jerusalem where the Passion and Death of Jesus took place.
Materials: The Gospels. A map of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. Pictures, coloured paper, recycled materials. Wood, liquid glue, boxes if you want to create a plastic model of the city.
Assign a place in Jerusalem where the Passion and Death of Jesus took place to each young person/small team. They will have to decide how to describe what happened there and could be using also pictures, colored paper, recycled materials to illustrate it. If you are creating a plastic model, assign also the person/small team the construction of a portion of the city where the place he/she was assigned is located.
Invite parents to the presentation of the map/plastic model by young persons/teams, finish with a reflection (you may use the one above) and prayer and have a small celebration for Easter together.
FOR SENIOR MEMBERS
A VERY SPECIAL EASTER
Organize a meeting with the Ministry of Communion of your ecclesial community.
Ask if you can accompany him/her in his/her visits the sick when he/she brings them communion.
Create a special prayer for the occasion to say with the sick, prepare an Easter card and/or a small pot of flowers for the sick (previously ask for the names of the sick) and stay for a little chat.
It will be a very special Easter, both for the sick and for you as well.