Lector: Our first reading is from the Book of Songs. 

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By night on my bed,

In my dreams, I look for whom my soul loves.

But when I awaken, there’s no one there.

I will get up now, and walk about the city;

Out through the streets and into the squares,

I will seek whom my soul loves.

 

Ah, but I searched, but found no one.

The watchmen on their rounds found me, though;

I wanted to ask them,

“Have you seen him, the one whom my soul loves?”

But no sooner did I pass by them,

then I found him at last, whom my soul loves.

 

I put my arms around him, and would not let go of him,

until I had brought him home, into my mother’s house,

in the very room where she made me.

 

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Respond: Thanks be to God.

 

 

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Responsorial Psalm

 

Lector: Our response is - My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.
People Repeat: My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.

 

O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
People Repeat: My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.

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I have gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you.
People Repeat: My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.

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Thus, will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
People Repeat: My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.

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O God, you are my help, and in the shadow of your wings, I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.

People Repeat: My soul is thirsting for you, O my God.

 

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Lector: Our second reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. 

 

For the love of CHRIST binds us together, having judged this, that if one person has died for all, then all have died. The reason Christ died for all was so that the living might no longer live for themselves, but for Christ, who died and was raised to life for them. So, from now on, we do not look on anyone in terms of mere human judgment. Even if we had known CHRIST in the flesh, that is not how we know Christ now. And, for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation. The ancient order has passed away; now, everything is new!
 

 

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People Respond: Thanks be to God.

 

 

Gospel Acclamation

 

Celebrant chants: Alleluia
People Respond (with chant): Alleluia.
Celebrant: Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.
People Respond (with chant): Alleluia.

 

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Gospel

 

Celebrant: Our God is with you.
People Respond: And also, with you.
Celebrant: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.
People Respond: † Praise to you, Jesus the Christ.

 

After the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb in the early morning, while it was still dark. Mary saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. She ran off to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They lifted the Lord away from the tomb and we do not know where they put him!”

 

Mary stood to the outside of the tomb, weeping. As she wept, she stooped down to peer inside, and there, she saw two angels in dazzling white robes, sitting there. One was seated at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been laid. The angels asked Mary, “Why are you weeping?” She answered them, “Because they have taken away my LORD, and I don’t know where they have laid HIM.”

 

No sooner had she said this, than she turned around and saw JESUS standing there, but she didn’t know it was JESUS. JESUS asked her, “Why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?”

 

Mary supposed that he was the gardener, so she said, “Please, if you’re the one who carried Jesus away, tell me where you’ve laid HIM, so I can take HIM away.” JESUS said to her, “Mary!” She turned to him and said to HIM in Hebrew, “RABBONI,’ which means “TEACHER.” JESUS then, “Do not touch and cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Rather, go to MY brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to MY Father and your Father, MY God and your God.’” Mary of Magdala went to the disciples announcing, “I have seen the LORD!” and what HE had said to her.

Celebrant: My friends, the Gospel of the Lord.
People Respond: Praise to you, Jesus the Christ.

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Prayers of the People

 

Celebrant: With the faith and trust of Mary Magdalene, let us raise our needs to God and the needs of the whole world:

Lector: Our response is, “Loving God, hear our prayer.”

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In thanksgiving for the strength and witness of those of all genders who have been apostles, priests, ministers, and servant leaders, from the time of the early Church, across the ages, to our own time and place, for this we pray:
People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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That God will lead all who are fleeing violence and protect them on their journey from harm and help them to find a new home in which to grow. We especially pray for the people of Ukraine to have faith that God hears their cries; for this, we pray:

People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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That, in response to Mary Magdalene’s call to follow Jesus, we re-dedicate ourselves to the radical inclusiveness of the Gospel, which calls all of us to become fully human; for this, we pray:

People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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That we remain open to the awe and wonder of Mary Magdalene in the garden, and be able to say: “We have seen the Teacher!” For this, we pray: 

People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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That we will see Jesus in the unsheltered and disenfranchised, in the immigrant and refugee; in the imprisoned and abused; in those who mourn, and in those who have lost their faith; for this, we pray:

People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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We pause to remember and speak the names of those who suffer with illness, that they may be blessed with comfort, hope, and healing [Lector, please count to 6]; for this, we pray:

People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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We pause to remember and speak the names of our deceased loved ones and friends who were called home to God. Although they are gone from our sight, may we feel the presence of their Spirit and hold them forever in our hearts. [Lector, please count to 6]; for this, we pray:

People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.

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For those who have asked for our prayers and for our unspoken prayers, held deep within the silence of our hearts, for this we pray:
People Respond: Loving God, hear our prayer.
 

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Celebrant: Loving God, you made us in your image, and we yearn for the healing of all your people. Fill our hearts with the fire of your love and enrich us with your life-giving Spirit so that all creation may feel your touch and be healed. We offer our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.
All: Amen.