The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
Pauca Verba (a few words)
“This is the day of the resurrection, let us be illumined, O Christian people, for this is the day of the sacred pasch of the Lord. Come, and let us drink of the new river, not brought forth from a barren stone, but from the fountain of life that springs forth from the sepulcher of Christ the Lord. In the early morning, let us arise, and offer to the master a hymn of praise instead of myrrh, and we shall see Christ, the sun of justice in shining splendor rising from the dead, and giving new life to all.”
Saint John Damascene
All during the Easter Season, Eastern Christians sing this troparion (little one verse hymn) dozens of times in church. Saint Augustine writes, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” Jesus rising from the dead is our hope and joy. Belief in Easter is everyday – not just a date on the spring calendar! Cut this little verse out and put it where you can see it often. Or memorize it and pray it frequently – especially when life seems dark or scary.
Christ is Risen from the dead,
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tomb, bestowing life!
Want grow deeply during the Easter season of Fifty Days? Get a copy of Father Stephen’s book, “There Is No Problem…” from the school store.
Pray one Easter meditation in the morning and another in the evening! Write, “There Is No Problem…” on the bottom of the school store order form.
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Answers to prayer
If God is slow to grant your request and you do not receive what you ask for promptly, do not be grieved, for you are not wiser than God.
When this happens to you, it is either because your way of life does not accord with your request, or because the pathways of your heart are at odds with the intention of your prayer.
Or it may be because your inner state is too childish by comparison with the magnitude of the thing you have asked for.
It is not appropriate that great things should fall easily into our hands, otherwise God’s gift will be held in dishonor, because of the ease with which we obtain it.
For anything that is readily obtained is also easily lost, whereas everything which is found with toil is preserved with care.
Saint Isaac of Syria
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EASTER WATER!
On Easter morning we renew our baptismal vows – rejecting the glamour of evil – refusing to be mastered by sin – rejecting Satan and all his empty promises. A vow is a sacred promise – made before God and the community. And the water with which we’re blessed is taken from the font in Hancock where Eric and Dan were baptized last night.
And as we get a face full of water we may be startled. That’s good. I know I’ve met the risen Christ when I’m startled – even stunned. Perhaps stunned by the enormity of God’s forgiveness in Christ. Perhaps by Christ’s “too good to be true” promises. Perhaps stunned by what Christ will ask of me now. Perhaps startled awake, pondering God’s infinite mercies! At any rate – don’t let the shock of water just be an amusing moment. Jesus wants to wake me out of my spiritual sleepiness, my slumber, maybe even my coma!
