Easter Day. The angels above and all the believers of the whole earth shout for joy, for the glory of God is exalted─Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14a) who came to give life to the world (Jn 6:33), making death His footstool, according to these words of the Father: « The Lord says to my lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool » Ps 110:1. Easter: day of victory for the believer as it is the day of God’s victory, the day of supreme celebration of the victory of faith. For it is written: « for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ? » 1 Jn 5:4-5. Indeed, it is not death who has the first word, or even the last, but God who is the author of life; in fact, John said: « In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people » Jn 1:1-4. And Jesus was truly exalted and He said: « All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me » Mt 28:18. Therefore, once He had endured to death, the Holy Scripture declared, « Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father » Phil 2:9-11. Thus Jesus confirms these words, which He had already given to His disciples, to all who believe in Him: « See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you » Lk 10:19. And He exhorts his people, saying: « because I live, you also will live » Jn 14:19c.
Sunday, 04th Easter I: Jesus is lifted up!
« See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high » Isa 52:13.
Reading 1: Jn 12:20-33. Reading 2: Isa 52:13-15. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Isa 52:13.
Introduction: The glory of God is His exaltation through His Servant, the Christ, the Anointed One of God. Jesus asked, « Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again » Jn 12:28.
Monday, 5th – Easter II: Know the power of His exaltation!
« [You may know that] greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power » Eph 1:19.
Reading 1: Mt 16:13-19. Reading 2: Eph 1:15-23. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Eph 1:17-19.
Introduction: The kingdom of heaven celebrates the exaltation of Jesus, praising Him thus: « Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! » Rev 5:12.
Tuesday, 6th : God cannot be held back by the grave!
« Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen » Lk 24:5b-6.
Reading 1: 1 Cor 15:50-57. Reading 2: Lk 24:1-8. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Lk 24:5-6.
Introduction: God is the only Master of all things that He created, so He commands both life and death. However, He gives free choice to His people, saying: « Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you » Deut 16:20. This is the way of the will of God, which gives life forever those who follow it (1 Jn.2:17b).
Wednesday, 07th: God has full authority over those who are His.
« Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? » Hos 13:14a,b.
Reading 1: Isa 45:1-14. Reading 2: Hos 13:14. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Hos 13:14.
Introduction: He says: « Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? » Mt 20:15a. Long ago He already spoke in these terms: « Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? » Isa 45:11b. « The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it » Ps 24:1a.
Thursday, 08th: God’s people are enlivened by God’s word.
« You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God » 1 Pet 1:23.
Reading 1: Heb 10:35-39. Reading 2: Pet 1:17-23. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: 1 Pet 1:23.
Introduction: The Proverbs’ words of wisdom tell about the word of God: « For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh » Pr 4:22. These words of the Psalms endorse this idea: « I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you » Ps 119:11.
Friday, 09th: Man’s wickedness leads him to death and perdition.
« Telling them, You must say, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep » Mt 28:13.
Reading 1: Jn 8:37-45. Reading 2: Mt 28:9-15. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Mt 28:12-15.
Introduction: The word of God is not bound, and the truth will not be destroyed. Jesus says: « But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death » Rev 21:8.
Saturday, 10th: Stand up for the truth of the resurrection of Jesus who conquered death!
« He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead » Mt 28:6-7a.
Reading 1: 1 Jn 1:1-4. Reading 2: Mt 28:9-15. Preaching 1 (free choice). Preaching 2: Mt 28:6-7.
Introduction: Today, just as in the past, the trampling of truth continues, so that there are some among the righteous who become cowardly, and the unrighteous are not ashamed to lie. The present time is God’s time to ripen the fruit; therefore, the Lord says: « Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. See, I am coming soon » Rev 22:11-12a.
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