Break Open the Word

The Second Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Psalm 16 I Peter 1:3-9 St. John 20:19-31 El Greco - Saint Luke                                                                                         BACKGROUND: Acts The first reading through all of Eastertide is from the Book of Acts.   I thought a bit of background might be helpful.   Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, and as such describes two great missions: 1. The Mission in Palestine, and 2. The Greater Mission to all the Earth.   The author, surmised to be Luke of An...

Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 116:1, 10-17 I Corinthians 11:23-26 St. John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Watanabe - Jesus washes Peter's feet                                                                                         BACKGROUND: Maundy Thursday With this day we enter the Triduum (the Three Great Days – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter).  The liturgies on these days are not three separate liturgies but rather a single service that extends from Thursday to the Great Vigil of Easter.  The services before the Vigil will not end i...

The Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) The Liturgy of the Palms St. Matthew 21:1-11 The Liturgy of the Passion Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Saint Matthew 26:14 – 27:66                                                                                         Rouault - The Crucifixion BACKGROUND: The Sunday of the Passion Within our lifetimes there has been a great deal of movement and change regarding this Sunday.   Prior to the liturgical changes coming out of Vatican II (which influenced Anglican and Lutheran usage), the ...