Monday in Easter Week
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with
awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer provides for each day of Easter Week, Monday through Saturday, a Collect and Eucharistic Lectionary with psalms and lessons. For today:
Psalm 16:8-11
Psalm 118:19-24
Acts 2:14, 22-32
Matthew 28:9-15
Never in my over 75 years as an Episcopalian have we been in a parish that had Easter Week services. Might find that at a large church with daily mass though or one with a specially devout priest and congregation.
Psalm 16 and Acts 2:14, 22-32 are appointed for next Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter. Matthew 28:9-15 tells about the chief priests bribing the tomb guards to testify that Jesus‘ disciples came in the night and stole away his body.
Psalm 118:19-24 is from an old Hebrew hymn that the Church now appoints to sing as a celebration of the Resurrection. Put on your right shoe first and sing:
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
I'll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
so the victors can enter and praise. Thank you for responding to me;
you've truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
This is God's work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
let's celebrate and be festive! (The Message)
Actually, I prefer the King James Version:
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
TW+