Readings and Reflections

2026 Easter Message

to the Diocese of the West

“Because upon the first glad Easter day,

The stone that sealed His tomb was rolled away;

So, through the deepening shadows of death’s night,

Men see an open door…beyond it light.”

Ida Norton Munson

I would encourage you to take a few moments to consider just what is that

“light beyond”. What was it, what is it, and what could it be?

Initially, that light meant to the disciples that Jesus had triumphed over death. He had survived the brutal journey to the cross. They had witnessed his death. They had experienced the end of their hopes and dreams, a complete destruction of their ideals and religious certainties.

And yet, at their darkest time, from the garden came the almost unbelievable

news: THE LORD IS RISEN!

The most amazing news is that we, too, may witness and experience His triumph in our lives when each of us commits unreservedly to Him. When we begin to share in His light, that wondrous victory of Easter, we can find the strength and courage to daily embrace Him and live in that “Peace which passeth all understanding”.

HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

May God Bless you this Easter Season with the joy of His Resurrection.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

The Right Reverend Robert M. Hammond

Eastertide

¶ At Morning Prayer, instead of the Psalm, O come, let us sing, etc., these Anthems shall he sung or said.¶ At Morning Prayer, instead of the Venite, the following shall be said, and may be said throughout the Octave.CHRIST our Passover is sacrificed for us : therefore let us keep the feast,
    Not with [the]* old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness : but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7.CHRIST being raised from the dead dieth no more : death hath no more dominion over him.
    For in that he died, he died unto sin once : but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
    Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin : but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 9.CHRIST is risen from the dead : and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
    For since by man came death : by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
    For as in Adam all die : even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. xv. 20.[Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the holy Ghost;
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.]*

 1st Sunday after Easter 

 The Collects

 ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen   

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through* Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.  Amen This Collect is to be said daily throughout Easter Week.

The Epistle  1 St. John 5:4

WHATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For [there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And]* there are three that bear witness[ in earth]*, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made hi inn liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son [of God]* hath not life.

The Gospel  St. John 20:19

THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.