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From an ancient sermon on Holy Saturday:
What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.
Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.
The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: 'My Lord be with you all.' And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.
‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.
‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.
‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.
‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.
'See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.
`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.
‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.
"The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages."
... Today, on the doorstep of Easter, the world awaits in profound anticipation. Tomorrow, in the darkness of morning, the empty tomb awaits to share the Good News of our salvation: Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death. We long to cry out our triumphant, "Alleluia!" to the universe. Our mighty King has risen and has swept us all up into his victory.
In these final moments before the Great Feast, we reflect on the depth of Christ's love, shown so vibrantly in His bloody sacrifice on the Cross, offered willingly for us and for the forgiveness of our sins. Let us ask for the grace to respond to His divine love with our hearts, minds, and souls, offering our whole lives to the One who holds them in His divine hands. He gave His life for us. Let us respond generously this Easter season and always, that we may know His love, His peace, and His victory.
... Know of my prayers for you in this holiest of times. Please pray for me as well. I also ask you to pray for my father, Bob Wagner. He has been in the hospital since Monday. A faulty valve in his heart has left him very weak, and they are waiting for him to recover enough to operate. He's been strong - my father is nothing if not stoic - and his suffering during Holy Week is fitting. May the power of Easter bring him the healing he needs, and until then, may he know that Christ the Victor is with him, so he may be at peace.
In Christ,
Fr. Wagner
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