Gospel Reflection
How must it have felt to be one of Jesus’ followers just days after His death? The man they lived with, ate with, and prayed with had just been brutally tortured and killed for all to see. He was their brother, their teacher, their friend. He was supposed to be their Messiah. How easily did fear and doubt creep in to cloud their memories of the miracles He performed and the wonders they had seen? If He was God, how could He have let this happen?
Does this sound familiar? How many times does God have to manifest in blessings for us to truly believe? How many times do we forget His saving power and love in the midst of tragedy and/or hardship? Why is it much easier to point fingers or wallow in our misery or lose our minds thinking of what-ifs than it is to believe that God could ever care for us or help us?
Don’t worry. God knows all this. He knows you and me. He knows how skeptical we are. And this is WHY the Resurrection took place. It isn’t easy to believe that God would send His only Begotten Son to earth just to be mocked and ridiculed and ultimately murdered…because God’s plan didn’t end there. It isn’t easy to believe in a risen Lord if Jesus’ disciples hadn’t found the stone rolled to the side and the tomb empty. It isn’t easy to understand Jesus’ pain and suffering on the cross without Jesus first allowing Thomas to feel the holes in His hands, feet, and side. We would never know God today had the disciples not been convinced of His story to tell it.
“For God so loved the world that He sent His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall never die…” We are blessed to know this familiar passage from scripture because of the brave men and women who ensured its survival over time. Oftentimes, though, we forget its truth and the comfort it brings. Repeat these words to yourself whenever you feel lost or troubled. Hold on to them. Keep them close to your heart. And when a new day rises, bringing you out of the darkness, remember that God’s plan doesn’t end there. “Go into the whole world and [tell the Good News].”
Gathering | Sweet Redeemer
King of Kings
blessed Jesus
hand of mercy
giver of grace
I have come
to sing glory
to lay my heart
before You in this place
Refrain
Sweet redeemer
I surrender
all I am to You
Repeat refrain
I was lost
and You found me
in the darkness
You were my light
When I fell down
You forgave me
lifted me up
and held me to Your side
Refrain
Sweet redeemer
I surrender
all I am to You
Repeat refrain X times
Mass Setting | Mass of St. Ann
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Responsorial Psalm | Ps. 118 This Is the Day
R./ This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad___in it
Repeat
I will give thanks to the Lord
for He is good to me
and the love of the Lord endures forever
R./ This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad___in it
He is my strength and my song
for He has rescued me
and the love of the Lord is my salvation
R./ This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad___in it
This is the day of the Lord
Let all creation sing
for the love of the Lord will never fail us
R./ This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad___in it
Preparation of the Gifts | We Bring Our Gifts to the Altar
We bring our gifts to Your altar, O Lord God of hosts
We lay them at the foot of Your throne
We bring our gifts to Your altar, O Lord God of hosts
We offer them to praise You alone
We bring our gifts to Your altar, O Lord
We bring our hearts to Your altar, O Lord God of hosts
Unite them with the heart of Your Son
For He offered His life as a ransom for sin
By His death the victory is won
We bring our hearts to Your altar, O Lord
Prepare our hearts to receive You, O Lord God of hosts
Cleanse us and wash away our sins
We sing Your praise with the angels and saints at Your throne
For this is where Heaven enters in
Prepare our hearts to receive You, O Lord
We bring our gifts to Your altar, O Lord God of hosts
May our sacrifice be pleasing in Your sight
Fruit of the earth and work of human hands
Which will become for us the Bread of Life
We bring our gifts to Your altar, O Lord
We bring our gifts to Your altar, O Lord
Communion | Do This In Memory of Me
I am the bread of life
all who believe in Me will have eternal life
I am the bread of life
come down from Heaven so that all who eat this bread
will never die
Take the living bread of life
take the cup of sacrifice
do this in memory of me
Take the body and the blood
given freely out of love
do this in memory of me
do this in memory of me
I am the bread of life
whoever comes to Me will not hunger again
I am the bread of life
no one can come to Me unless the Father draws them
near to Him
Take the living bread of life
take the cup of sacrifice
do this in memory of me
Take the body and the blood
given freely out of love
do this in memory of me
do this in memory of me
Amen I say unless you eat the Son of Man and His blood drink
You will not have My life within nor will you be raised up again
Amen I say unless you eat the Son of Man and His blood drink
I cannot raise you up again
Take the living bread of life
take the cup of sacrifice
do this in memory of me
Take the body and the blood
given freely out of love
do this in memory of me
do this in memory of me
do this in memory of me
do this in memory of me
Reflection | Hallelujah Is Our Song
What hope we have
even in the longest night
for the light will overcome
We will not fear
for we know the sun will rise
Hallelujah is our song
What peace we have
even in this wounded world
where the battle rages on
We will not fear
for we know who heals our souls
Hallelujah is our song
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
He is risen over all
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah is our song
What joy we have
for the stone is rolled away
and the tomb holds nothing now
No sting of death
no power over sin or grave
Hallelujah is our song
What hope we have,
even in the longest night
for the light will overcome
And we shall live
sinners, we will rise to saints
Hallelujah is our song
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
He is risen over all
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah is our song
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
He is risen over all
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah is our song
Hallelujah is our song
Hallelujah is our song
Closing | Jesus Reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Forever and ever
Forever and ever, Amen
Repeat
Awakened to the light
darkness has been conquered
Eternal life
we now know the way
No fear and strife
Ev’rything is different
Jesus has been raised
We can never be the same
our eyes are open
We must proclaim
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Jesus reigns
Forever and ever
Forever and ever, Amen
Repeat
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