DAY 4

The Paschal Mystery: The Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Addressing our separation and brokenness

Scripture Readings

Exodus 3: 7-8
Psalm 16:5, 7, 10, 11
Philippians 2:5-11

Patristic Reading

From the Latin tradition

God the Father was very merciful: he sent his creative Word who, in coming to deliver us, came to the very place and spot in which we had lost life, and broke the bonds of our fetters. His light appeared and made the darkness of the prison disappear and hallowed our birth and destroyed death, loosing those same fetters in which we were enchained.

– Irenaeus of Lyon [c. 135-198], Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, 38

For reflection:

  1. We know that we will all die. How does belief in Jesus destroying death change the way we approach this reality?
  2. “God lets himself be pushed out of the world on to the cross. He is weak and powerless in the world, and that is precisely the way, the only way, in which he is with us and helps us.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
  3. As the Risen One, Jesus is with us until the end of all time. In what ways does his companionship encourage you in your daily life?

Prayer

R:   Glory and praise to you, O Lord

Blessed are you, O Christ, Firstborn of all creation:
you are crowned with glory and honour. R/

At your Name every knee will bend in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue will confess that you are the Lord. R/

Let us rejoice and sing praises to you, O Christ, beloved Son of the Father: you are the Risen One, you call us to live in you. R/

We adore you, we glorify you, for you are King of kings and Lord of lords: you have opened to us the kingdom of heaven. R/

We give you thanks at all times and we bless your Name: you are with us always, to the end of the age. R/

Let us pray 

Lord our God,
glorifying your Son Jesus, you have freed us from death. Through his resurrection, awaken our slumbering hearts, enlighten all who seek you

and make the morning star shine upon us, Jesus Christ, the Living One, who is Lord for ever and ever. AMEN.

Alternative Patristic Readings

From the Greek tradition

The Saviour came down to earth out of mercy for mankind. He fully suffered our passions, before he suffered the cross and deigned to take on our flesh. For if he had not suffered, he would not have come to dwell in the midst of human life. First he suffered, then he descended and was seen. What is that passion which he suffered for us? The passion of charity.

– Origen of Alexandria [c. 185-254], Homilies on Ezekiel, 6:6

From the Syriac tradition

The body thanks you, that it was saved by your humiliation. It was a strayed sheep, and the lion lay in ambush to dismember it, and sin in secret is the beast that tears it into pieces          Instead of our body you delivered your body to that death that devoured us but was not sated. By you alone it was sated and destroyed. – Ephrem of Nisibis [c. 306-373], Hymn on Virginity, 37:5