The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Saturday, 4 April 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Saturday, 4 April 2015

Meditation: Mark 16:1 When Shabbat was over, Miryam of Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya‘akov, and Shlomit bought spices in order to go and anoint Yeshua. 2 Very early the next day, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 They were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” 4 Then they looked up and saw that the stone, even though it was huge, had been rolled back already. 5 On entering the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right; and they were dumbfounded. 6 But he said, “Don’t be so surprised! You’re looking for Yeshua from Natzeret, who was executed on the stake. He has risen, he’s not here! Look at the place where they laid him. 7 But go and tell his talmidim, especially Kefa, that he is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there, just as he told you.”
Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil
He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. (Mark 16:7)
Today we experience the silence of the tomb. Jesus appears to be “sleeping in death,” as if resting from his harrowing Passion. But if this is a sleep at all, it’s a very active one! Tonight at the Easter Vigil, we will proclaim that he has descended into hell, trampled its gates, and broken Satan’s hold on humanity. All night, we will wait in eager anticipation for his resurrection to free us from the ancient curse of sin and restore us to life in God.
We will also be reminded tonight of the night the Israelites passed on the shores of the Red Sea. Escaping into the desert after the angel of death had passed over them, they found themselves trapped, with the sea before them and Pharaoh’s troops behind them. They kept vigil there, with a mysterious angel of the Lord and a pillar of cloud guarding them through the night (Exodus 14:19). Their lives hung in the balance, and they could only stand firm in faith (14:14). There was nothing else they could do. Everything depended on God.
Jesus’ disciples found themselves in a similar situation after his crucifixion. No amount of effort—not Peter’s grief at denying his Master nor the women’s kindly preparations to anoint Jesus’ body with spices—could bring the Master back to life. There was nothing they could do but wait. But it is precisely here, at the end of all human resources, that God’s power shines through most gloriously. When we were dead in sin, he sent his Son to restore us to life. When we could not save ourselves, Jesus rescued us. When we were enslaved to the devil, God loosed our chains.
Let’s wait on the Lord tonight. We have only to “keep still,” and he will act on our behalf (Exodus 14:14). Even if you are not able to attend the Vigil, spend some time this evening keeping watch and waiting for the light of Christ to break forth. This is the “truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld!” (Easter Exsultet).
“O Christ our Savior, all our hope is in you! Through your resurrection, deliver us from our sins and fears. Transform our sorrows into joy. Restore us, Lord, to life in you.” Amen!
Exodus 14:(A: iii) 15 Adonai asked Moshe, “Why are you crying to me? Tell the people of Isra’el to go forward! 16 Lift your staff, reach out with your hand over the sea, and divide it in two. The people of Isra’el will advance into the sea on dry ground. 17 As for me, I will make the Egyptians hardhearted; and they will march in after them; thus I will win glory for myself at the expense of Pharaoh and all his army, chariots and cavalry. 18 Then the Egyptians will realize that I am Adonai, when I have won myself glory at the expense of Pharaoh, his chariots and his cavalry.”

19 Next, the angel of God, who was going ahead of the camp of Isra’el, moved away and went behind them; and the column of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them. 20 It stationed itself between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Isra’el — there was cloud and darkness here, but light by night there; so that the one did not come near the other all night long.

21 Moshe reached his hand out over the sea, and Adonai caused the sea to go back before a strong east wind all night. He made the sea become dry land, and its water was divided in two. 22 Then the people of Isra’el went into the sea on the dry ground, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians continued their pursuit, going after them into the sea — all Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and cavalry. 24 Just before dawn, Adonai looked out on the Egyptian army through the column of fire and cloud and threw them into a panic. 25 He caused the wheels of their chariots to break off, so that they could move only with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Adonai is fighting for Isra’el against the Egyptians! Let’s get away from them!”

(A: iv, S: iii) 26 Adonai said to Moshe, “Reach your hand out over the sea, and the water will return and cover the Egyptians with their chariots and cavalry.” 27 Moshe reached his hand out over the sea, and by dawn the sea had returned to its former depth. The Egyptians tried to flee, but Adonai swept them into the sea. 28 The water came back and covered all the chariots and cavalry of Pharaoh’s army who had followed them into the sea — not even one of them was left. 29 But the people of Isra’el walked on dry ground in the sea, with the water walled up for them on their right and on their left.

30 On that day, Adonai saved Isra’el from the Egyptians; Isra’el saw the Egyptians dead on the shore. 31 When Isra’el saw the mighty deed that Adonai had performed against the Egyptians, the people feared Adonai, and they believed in Adonai and in his servant Moshe.

15L1 Then Moshe and the people of Isra’el sang this song to Adonai:

“I will sing to Adonai, for he is highly exalted:

the horse and its rider he threw in the sea.

(Psalm) Exodus 15:1 Then Moshe and the people of Isra’el sang this song to Adonai:

“I will sing to Adonai, for he is highly exalted:

the horse and its rider he threw in the sea.

2 Yah is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.

This is my God: I will glorify him;

my father’s God: I will exalt him.

3 Adonai is a warrior;

Adonai is his name.

4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army

he hurled into the sea.

His elite commanders

were drowned in the Sea of Suf.

5 The deep waters covered them;

they sank to the depths like a stone.

6 Your right hand, Adonai, is sublimely powerful;

your right hand, Adonai, shatters the foe.

17 You will bring them in and plant them

on the mountain which is your heritage,

the place, Adonai, that you made your abode,

the sanctuary, Adonai, which your hands established.

18 Adonai will reign forever and ever.

Romans 6:3 Don’t you know that those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Yeshua have been immersed into his death? 4 Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was put to death on the execution-stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For someone who has died has been cleared from sin. 8 Now since we died with the Messiah, we trust that we will also live with him. 9 We know that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, never to die again; death has no authority over him. 10 For his death was a unique event that need not be repeated; but his life, he keeps on living for God. 11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua.
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