Good Friday, at 6 o'clock.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 112

In those days, on the first day of the week, very early, the women came to the tomb, carrying the prepared aromas, and with them some others; but they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And when they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men appeared before them in resplendent garments. And when they were afraid, and bent their faces to the ground, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here: He is risen; remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. And they remembered His words; and having returned from the tomb, they proclaimed all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. These were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and others with them, who told these things to the Apostles. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped down and saw only the swaddling clothes lying there, and went back, marveling within himself at what had happened.

Luke 24:1–12

The Sunday Gospel 4.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 113

In those days, Peter arose, ran to the tomb, and bending down, saw only the swaddling clothes lying there, and went back, marveling in himself at what had happened. On the same day two of them went to a village sixty stades from Jerusalem, called Emmaus; and they talked among themselves about all these events. And as they were talking and reasoning among themselves, Jesus Himself drew nigh and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not recognize Him.

And we hoped that He was the One who was to deliver Israel; but with all this, it is already the third day since it happened. But some of our women also amazed us: they were early at the tomb and did not find His body, and when they came, they said that they had also seen the appearance of angels, who said that He was alive. And some of us went to the tomb, and found him as the women had said, but they did not see him. Then he said to them, O foolish and slow in heart, to believe all that the prophets had foretold! Was it not necessary for Christ to suffer and enter into His glory? And beginning with Moses, of all the prophets, he explained to them the things that were said about him in all the Scriptures. And they drew near to the village to which they were going; and He showed them that He wanted to go on. But they restrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for the day has already turned to evening." And He went in and stayed with them. And as he sat at table with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them: then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But He became invisible to them. And they said to one another, "Did not our hearts burn within us when He spoke to us on the way, and when He explained the Scriptures to us? And rising at the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found together the eleven Apostles and those who were with them, who said that the Lord had truly risen and appeared to Simon. And they told of what had happened on the way, and how he had been recognized by them in the breaking of bread.

Luke 24:12–35

The Sunday Gospel 5.

Tuesday of Bright Week.

The Gospel of Luke, conceived 114

In those days Jesus rose from the dead, stood in the midst of His disciples, and said to them, Peace be unto you. They, confused and frightened, thought that they were seeing a spirit. But He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do such thoughts enter into your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet; it is I Myself; touch Me and see; for the spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And when they were not yet believing for joy, and were amazed, He said to them, Have you any food here? They gave Him some of the baked fish and honeycomb. And he took it, and ate before them. And he said to them, This is what I have told you while I was with you, that all things must be fulfilled which are written about me in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms. Then he opened their minds to the understanding of the Scriptures. And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day, and to be preached in his name for repentance and forgiveness of sins in all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of this. And I will send My Father's promise upon you; but you remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high. And he brought them out of the city as far as Bethany, and lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And when he was blessing them, he began to depart from them and ascend to heaven. They worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were always in the temple, glorifying and blessing God. Amen.

Luke 24:36–53