Monday Morning Offering: 4/6

Image: George Mendoza

 

Good morning, good God!

 

It's Easter Monday and I'm wondering, Lord:

    what was it like for your friends 

    the day after you rose from the dead?

 

On Sunday, the women came and found your tomb empty

    and then ran home quickly  to tell the others;

on Sunday night you appeared to your closest friends

    who'd locked all the doors where they were

        out of anxious fear for their safety

- and still your first, gentle word to them was

    "Peace... my peace be with you..."

 

Did they sleep after that - or stay awake -

    wondering what all this might mean...

Monday came, as it came today,

and I wonder, Lord:

    were they still  confused?

    doubting their own experience?

    fearful of  what might befall them?

    unsure of what to believe?

    afraid of what others might think

        if they spoke of your resurrection?

Had they heard your merciful greeting?

    your word of sweeping forgiveness?

    your pardon of how they had failed you?

    your gentle and healing blessing: 

        "Peace... my peace be with you..."

 

It's Easter Monday again, Lord, 

    and I offer today for your healing:

        my doubts and confusion,

        my fear of what others think of my faith

        and my failing to witness to what I believe...

 

I offer my need for your pardon and grace,

    my desire to hear you speak to my heart,

        "Peace... my peace be with you..."

 

Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Easter Sunday 2026

On the evening of that first day of the week, Lord,
    on that first Easter,
you came to your friends who were huddled in fear,
    gathered in dread behind closed doors
        your friends who had fled and abandoned you

    and yet your first word to them was - Peace!

 

 These are times when I need your peace,  Lord,
    when worry and fear 

        threaten to close the door of my heart 

            to the peace and joy of Easter day;

     when worry and fear 

        are reaching to rob me
            of what my faith assures me;

    when worry and fear weary my hope
        and leave me awake and restless...

I need your peace tonight
    to calm my troubled thoughts,
    to strengthen my trust and hope in you,
    to assure me one more time, Lord,
        that all shall be well, that all shall be well,
        that in you and your peace
        all manner of things shall be well...

I pray for the gift of your peace, Lord,
    your abiding presence, deep in my soul; 

and I pray for the gift of deep sleep
    to refresh me to face tomorrow;

I pray for the blessing of rest and refreshment

    that comes to those who open their hearts

        to your mercy, your grace and your love...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

   and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen. 

 

Deep Peace by John Rutter

 

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

  

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Pope Leo's Easter Message

Here's a portion of Pope Leo's Easter message:

"In the light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ! Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us! Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them! 

"We are growing accustomed to violence, resigning ourselves to it, and becoming indifferent. Indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. Indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division that conflicts sow. Indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce, which we all feel. There is an ever-increasing “globalization of indifference,” to borrow an expression dear to Pope Francis, who one year ago from this loggia addressed his final words to the world, reminding us: “What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 20 April 2025).

"The cross of Christ always reminds us of the suffering and pain that surround death and the agony it entails. We are all afraid of death, and out of fear we turn away, preferring not to look. We cannot continue to be indifferent! And we cannot resign ourselves to evil! Saint Augustine teaches: “If you fear death, love the resurrection!” (Sermon 124, 4). Let us too love the resurrection, which reminds us that evil is not the last word, because it has been defeated by the Risen One. 

"He passed through death to give us life and peace: “I leave you peace; I give you my peace. Not as the world gives it, I give it to you” (Jn 14:27). The peace that Jesus gives us is not merely the silence of weapons, but the peace that touches and transforms the heart of each one of us! Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the peace of Christ! Let us make heard the cry for peace that springs from our hearts! For this reason, I invite everyone to join me in a prayer vigil for peace that we will celebrate here in Saint Peter’s Basilica next Saturday, April 11. 

"On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil. To the Lord we entrust all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give. Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new (cf. Rev 21:5)."

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I want an angel who trains at Gold's Gym!

 

This is a video of my homily for Easter Sunday, based on this gospel. (If a video doesn't appear above, click here!) And here's the text of my homily:

 

Anyone know where I can get me an angel - like the one in this gospel?

An angel who'd show up just when and where I need him? And I'm not looking for one of those Christmassy angels floating in a starlit sky, playing a harp, and singing Silent Night. I want an angel like the one here at the tomb! An angel who comes DOWN from heaven. An angel who looks like he works out a Gold's Gym and has the guns you need to roll back the stone - the stone that sealed Jesus in death.

 

I want an angel who comes down from heaven, rolls back that stone - and then sits on it. How sweet is that? An angel who rolls back the stone of death - the death that threatens to entomb every human heart - and sits on that rock. I'm looking for an angel strong enough to roll back the stone of grief and loss in my heart. An angel who plunks himself down on my heart - like it's his park bench.

 

I want an angel to do all of that for me. And then to tell me,

“Don't be afraid – all will be well. Don't be amazed that I rolled back a stone! That was nothing. You want amazing? That’s Jesus. Jesus was dead -- dead as a doornail - buried in this tomb -- and he rose from the dead! He's alive! Now, THAT’S really something – THAT’S amazing. But you might want to get a move on, Austin, because he's waiting for you. Jesus is waiting for YOU. Just down the road a piece… he's waiting to meet up with you.”

That's the kind of angel I want in my life, and I guess maybe you might like an angel like that too...

 

The two women in the gospel who met this angel when they went to visit the tomb of Jesus: they went to the place of their pain, their loss, their grief, their disappointment, their worry and their fear. They visited the place where their hopes had been dashed. Obliterated. They went to that place, even though they knew it was dangerous to go there. It was dangerous because there were Roman guards there, sent by powerful people, people who were very GLAD that Jesus was dead.

 

But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were holding the death of Jesus in their hearts. And they needed to visit the place of their grief.

 

If such an angel, an angel like the women encountered, if such an angel would descend from heaven into MY life, I suspect he will meet me in a place I might fear to go, that I want to avoid, a place where my hopes have been dashed.

 

Such an angel might meet me in the past that I hold onto - and invite me to move on… That angel might meet me in my ego, in my pride - and urge me to get real… That angel might meet me in my blind prejudice - and call me to open my eyes to the truth… The angel might meet me in my stubborn self-pity - and tell me to get a grip… The angel might meet me in my selfishness - and show me how I can be more generous…

 

That's an angel for me. But there are angels for the WORLD around us.

 

Might there not be an angel in the midst of the poor - waiting for us, for us who have so much more than we need - might there be an angel waiting for us to visit there, to invite us to share what we have?

 

Might there be an angel waiting in Ukraine, in Gaza, in Iran - waiting to call ALL sides to mend and heal this broken world of ours, to lay down our arms, to reconcile, and to make peace - that lasts?

 

Might there be an angel waiting in all four corners of the globe - waiting to call us beyond our SELVES and TO the God who made us? Beyond our damned foolishness - to wisdom. Beyond the whirling death spiral of our greed for more and more, our lust for power, and our contentment with passing things of little or no value…

 

Might there be an angel waiting to call us beyond all of this TO all in life, all in the world, that is loving, kind, gentle, patient, genuine, life giving, beautiful, whole, true, and pure.

 

Might there be an angel waiting to call us TO the spirit of God who made us, who gave this world to us and entrusted it to our care? The God who loves us, who calls us each by name, who never fails to forgive us. Who gave his only son, his SON, who suffered and laid down his life and died for us. Who rose from the dead to send us angels to call us precisely to that peace for which we all hunger and thirst. And to a life that has no end. 

 

Angels are waiting to meet me in my prayer, in my tears, in the advice of good friends, in nature's beauty, in my heart, in gentle nudges from God and whispers from the Holy Spirit…

 

When there are angels in my life and angels in your life, we need to slow down, look for them, EXPECT to find them, listen to them, and meet them even in those places - where all our hopes have been dashed.

 

There’s an angel waiting to say to you and to me,

“Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid because Jesus LIVES, and he knows what you carry in your heart. He's going ahead of you, and wants you to follow him. He's waiting to meet you on your way… down the road. He's leading you to healing and peace. And if you'll follow in his footsteps, you, too, will rise from all that holds you down. You, too, will find peace and life forever."

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Another prayer for Easter Day

Image source

 
Easter's wonder, peace and joy
rise up from

faith and prayer and praise... 

Help me treasure Easter's gifts, Lord:
faith and hope and love.

   Embed them in my heart

and let them color all my thoughts

   and restore my trust in you...

And if I'm waiting still

for Easter's gracious gift of peace

then help me sing, Lord, 

while I wait

'til your power and your love come down

and rise up in my soul... 

Amen.

 

Here's one of my all-time-favorite hymns! 

Praise His Holy Name

by Keith Hampton 

sung by Syracuse University Singers 

Sing till the power of the Lord come down. 

Shout Hallelujah! Praise his holy name!
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound 

that saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now I'm found, 

was blind, but now I see.
Jesus, Jesus, how I love thee! 

Shout Hallelujah! Praise his holy name!
Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free?
No, there's a cross for everyone and there's a cross for me.
Jesus, Jesus, how I love thee! 

Shout Hallelujah! Praise his holy name!
Holy Jesus, praise his name! 

Oh Hallelujah, Praise his holy name.
Praise his name, praise his holy name!

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Pause for Prayer: EASTER SUNDAY

For the joy of Easter's song,

     ALLELUIA! 

 

For the joy of faith in you,
    ALLELUIA!

For the joy your Holy Spirit brings,
    ALLELUIA!

For the joy and peace of trusting you, 
    ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of resting in your arms,
    ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of good and faithful friends,
    ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of life's most simple things,
    ALLELUIA!

 

For the joy of small surprises,

    ALLELUIA! 

 

For the joy of every sunrise

    and and every evening's sunset,

        ALLELUIA!

 
For the joy of days well spent,
   ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of just a good night's sleep,
   ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy your grace affords me,
   ALLELUIA!

 

For joy that lifts me from my grief,

    ALLELUIA!

    
For the joy of word and promise kept,
   ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of mercy's pardon,
    ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of new beginnings,
    ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of living 

    - one day at a time,
        ALLELUIA! 

 
For the joy of giving thanks,
    ALLELUIA! 

   
For joy that calms my fears,

     ALLELUIA!

 
For joy that eases worries,

    ALLELUIA!

 
For joy that heals old wounds,

    ALLELUIA! 

 

For the joy that gives me hope renewed,

    ALLELUIA! 

 
For joy that mends my heart, 

    ALLELUIA!

 
For joy that feeds my faith,

    ALLELUIA!

 
For joy that brings me peace,

    ALLELUIA! 

 

What - or whom - might you add to this litany? 

 

For the joy of ____________,

    ALLELUIA!  

 
For the joy that trusts 

    all shall be well,
        I praise and thank you, Lord!

            ALLELUIA!   

 

 

Halle! Halle! Halle!

    Folk tune arranged by Marty Haugen

        performed by Saint Olaf Choir

 

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

 

1. Oh, God to whom shall we go?
You alone have the words of life.
Let your words be our prayer
and our song we sing:
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

2. I am the light of the world says the Lord.
Walk in the light of life.
All who follow my words
shall have life indeed:
Hallelujah, hallelujah. 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 4/4

The Easter Vigil opens with a Service of Light which features the Exsultet, a 1200 year old hymn of praise in honor of the Paschal Candle (the Light of Christ in our midst). Back in 1984 I combined the text of the Exsultet (a lengthy chant sung by a solo voice) with the music of Marty Haugen's The Light of Christ to give the assembly of worshipers a sung role in this Easter proclamation. I hope this will give your Easter celebration a joyful beginning!  Following the video and the text, you'll find this day's Night Prayer.   (If a video doesn't appear below, click here!) 

 

 

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us;

            the love of Christ enfolds us;

            the pow'r of Christ protects us;

            the presence of Christ watches over us.

 

            All the earth is ablaze

            with the glory of God,

            for the light has come

            to burn away the darkness.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            Let us fill every space

            with the sound of our joy,

            praising Christ who is living now among us.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            Rejoice, all you heavenly choirs of angels!

 

            Rejoice, all creation around God's throne -

            for our mighty God is victorious!

 

            Rejoice, O earth -                

            you are made radiant by such splendor!

 

            Darkness everywhere has been overcome

            by the brightness of our everlasting God!

 

            Rejoice, O Holy Mother Church -

            you are made radiant by so great a light!

 

            Let this place ring out with rejoicing,

            with the song of all the people gathered here.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            My brothers and sisters:

            Christ has ransomed us with his blood

            and paid for us the debt of Adam's sin,

            and with his precious blood

            washed away the penalty of original sin.

 

            This is the Paschal feast

            in which the true lamb is slain;

            whose blood hallowed the doorposts of the faithful!

 

            This is the night when first you saved our ancestors,

            you freed the people of Israel from their slavery

            and led them dry-shod through the Red Sea!

 

            This is the night when the pillar of fire

            destroyed the darkness of sin!

 

            This is the night which at this hour everywhere

            restores to grace and unites in holiness

            those who believe in Christ,

            separating them from worldly vice

            and the darkness of sin.

 

            This is the night when Jesus Christ

            broke the chains of death

            and rose in victory from the grave!

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            Father, how wonderful your care for us!

            How boundless your merciful love!

 

            To ransom us, your servants, 

                you gave away your only Son.

 

            O happy fault!   O necessary sin of Adam

            which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

 

            O truly blessed night

            which alone deserved to know the time and the hour

            when Christ arose from the grave.

 

            It is of this night that Scripture says:

            "And the night shall be as bright as day,

            and the night shall light up my joy!"

 

            The power of this holy night dispels all evil, 

                washes guilt away,

            restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy;

            it casts out hatred, brings us peace, 

                and humbles earthly pride.

 

            This is the night truly blessed   

                when heaven is wedded to earth

                    and creation is reconciled with God.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

           

            As this candle shines out

            through the darkness of night,

            may the love of Christ

            burn ever in our hearts.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us…

 

            In the East, the Morning Star

            rises bright upon us,

            in its peaceful light

            shines the glory of the Lord.

 

            The light of Christ surrounds us;

            the love of Christ enfolds us;

            the pow'r of Christ protects us;

            the presence of Christ watches over us.

           

            AMEN!

 

Night Prayer 

 

When I go to bed tonight, Lord,
I'll pray for deep and restful sleep
on this night of all nights when,
at a time known only to heaven,
you rose from the dead...

This is the night, Lord,

which restores to grace 

and unites in holiness

all who believe in you....

This is the night

whose light pierces the darkness

and rescues us from sin...

This is the night

when you broke the chains of death

and rose in victory from the grave!

The power of this holy night 

dispels all evil, 

washes guilt away, 

restores lost innocence, 

brings mourners joy; 

casts out hatred,

brings us peace, 

and humbles earthly pride. 

This is the night truly blessed

when heaven is wedded to earth 

and creation is reconciled with God! *

So I shall sleep in peace, Lord,

trusting that even in the dead of night

your risen life beats within me

and that I, too, shall rise:

    when morning dawns tomorrow;

    and at the end of all my days;

    and when at last you come again,

    and death shall be no more!

Amen.

 

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