The Beginning: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene

Location: Our Lady of Ransom Church

Leader: We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you.

Genuflect

People: Because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

Stand

Reader: A reading from the Gospel according to John (20:11–18)
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Leader:
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we gather here at a crossroads: although unsure, we have decisions to make. There are a multitude of voices telling us to do this or that. Confusion is everywhere. Let us come to your presence and seek your holy will. Give us the clarity, O Lord, to see your plan for us; help us to put aside our fears and desires, and with an honest and sin-free heart, we can be open to your grace.
Let us receive yours with openness, your divine Spirit and Word. Show us, Lord, that everything begins and ends with you, that everything begins with belief in your resurrection. And with this eternal truth, Lord, let our search begin, and may we be brought closer to you. In the name of Christ Jesus. Amen

 

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Additional prayers: p17

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