Memory of Jesus crucified

Memorial of St. Seraphim of Sarov, a Russian monk and staretz (+1833). He communicated peace by witnessing the Easter joy and the action of the Holy Spirit

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Leviticus 23,1.4-11.15-16.27.34-37

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: "These are Yahweh's solemn festivals, the sacred assemblies to which you will summon the Israelites on the appointed day: "The fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, is the Passover of Yahweh; and the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of Unleavened Bread for Yahweh. For seven days you will eat unleavened bread. On the first day you will hold a sacred assembly; you will do no heavy work. For seven days you will offer food burnt for Yahweh. On the seventh day there will be a sacred assembly; you will do no heavy work." ' Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: 'Speak to the Israelites and say: "When you enter the country which I am giving you and reap the harvest there, you will bring the priest the first sheaf of your harvest, and he will present it to Yahweh with the gesture of offering, for you to be acceptable. The priest will make this offering on the day after the Sabbath, "From the day after the Sabbath, the day on which you bring the sheaf of offering, you will count seven full weeks. You will count fifty days, to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then you will offer Yahweh a new cereal offering. 'But the tenth day of this seventh month will be the Day of Expiation. You will hold a sacred assembly. You will fast and offer food burnt for Yahweh. 'Speak to the Israelites and say: "On the fifteenth day of this seventh month there will be the feast of Shelters for Yahweh, lasting for seven days. The first day will be a day of sacred assembly; you will do no heavy work. For seven days you will offer food burnt for Yahweh. On the eighth day you will hold a sacred assembly and you will offer food burnt for Yahweh. It is a day of solemn meeting; you will do no heavy work. "These are Yahweh's solemn festivals to which you will summon the Israelites, the sacred assemblies for the purpose of offering food burnt for Yahweh, consisting of burnt offerings, cereal offerings, sacrifices and libations, each on its appropriate day,

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

God lays out the celebrations that should mark the life of his people, define its time, so that they may understand his love in their daily lives and live out the vocation entrusted to them. The rhythm of the time is established by God, and it wants to emphasize mean that history does not run randomly but has a precise destination, not only for the people of Israel but also for the other peoples of the earth. God marks the days of his people so that they may live and witness the mystery of salvation to others. God's time enters human beings' time to ferment it with his grace and destine it to the fulness of salvation. The text of Leviticus is the first draft of the liturgical time of the people of Israel. It is established that the first festival is the Passover of the Lord, which takes place between March and April. In it the sacrifices consumed by the fire are offered to the Lord. On the feast of unleavened bread, which takes place at the beginning of the harvest, the first fruits are offered to the Lord. To offer to God the first fruits of the earth means to recognize his lordship. Not only are we not the masters of the earth, but we must also remember that we have received everything free of God. It is good that the first fruits are given to the Lord. Thus, we learn the sense of gratitude and restitution as a rule of our life both to the Lord and to our brothers and sisters. The times of festivals help men and women to discover their freedom oof being fully with God, of putting him at the centre and therefore finding the heart of their life and the meaning of their journey.