Celebrating Easter Wednesday from Home
In these worship resources, we continue our journey through Easter Week, following the Lord’s betrayal, suffering, death and resurrection.
We read of two people with heavy hearts and how their eyes were opened by a simple gesture.
(Background and more details about celebrating Eastertide from home)
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.Quaerite Dominum, et confirmamini; quaerite faciem ejus semper.
Psalm 104 (105):4
The Liturgy of the Word
Reflection
“Stay with us, for it is nearly evening”.
Confused by the events of previous days, two of Jesus’ disciples leave Jerusalem for Emmaus.
A stranger draws near and joins them, asking why they are so downcast.
They tell the story of recent happenings and yet did not recognise who was in their midst.
Evening draws in, the day is nearly spent, and they invite the stranger to stay with them and to share a meal.
He tells the story and shares bread and wine with them,
and their eyes were opened.
Immediately, they returned to their friends and colleagues to tell them that Jesus is risen
and had appeared to them in the breaking of the bread.
Although we cannot break bread at this time,
we can still allow our eyes to be opened to hear the Word.
Dearest Jesus, we are here
To listen to you and your word.
Direct our minds and desires
to the delightful teaching of heaven:
so that from the earth our hearts
may be completely drawn to you.
Text: Anon, from the Darmstadt Gesangbuch
Translated by Francis Browne
Music for reflection
1 The glory of the cross we sing,
the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord,
who died and rose to set us free,
our way from death to life secured.
2 As once God’s people rested safe,
protected by a lamb’s own blood,
so we acclaim the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.
3 As once the Chosen People passed
from pain to freedom through the sea,
so now baptismal water saves
the chosen, called to liberty.
4 At Passover, before he died,
Christ Jesus took the bread and wine:
‘This is my body, this my blood,
do this as my memorial sign.’
5 What once by Jesus was achieved
we celebrate with heart and soul,
recalling and effecting now
the saving work that makes us whole.
tune: Wareham LM
words: John Ainslie
The Lord’s Prayer
O God,
whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread:
open the eyes of our faith,
that we may behold him in all his redeeming work;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Alleluia!
In these strange times, we are called to trust
Other resources
Photo of candle by David Tomaseti on Unsplash
