A Liturgy for Easter
It would have been enough for us
I composed a liturgy for easter while on retreat today, inspired by the liturgy of the church, and the ancient Dayenu prayer prayed by the Jewish People at passover.
In the prayer the Jewish people list the many works of God through salvation history to deliver his people, and respond; Dayenu! - It would have been enough for us.
I’ve loved praying this prayer at Cedar Meals in the past, and have reformulated it to meditate on the life of Christ, his death and resurrection.
I hope that as you pray it, it can move your heart to thanksgiving and celebration this Sunday.
Had the word of God been revealed by the message of an angel and became flesh in the God-Man Jesus Christ.
Response; it would have been enough for us
Had he become flesh in Jesus Christ, and did not also grow in wisdom and stature, and give us his holy teachings.
it would have been enough for us
Had he given us his holy teachings, and not authenticated them through his miracles.
it would have been enough for us
Had he performed his miracles, but did not die to atone for our sins.
it would have been enough for us
Had he died to atone for our sins, and did not also recapitulate all things back to the Father.
it would have been enough for us
Had he died to recapitulate all things back into God the Father, and was not to be enthroned as king over all things.
it would have been enough for us
Had he been enthroned as king over all things, and did not also become our bridegroom on the marriage bed of the cross.
it would have been enough for us
Had he died to become our bridegroom on the marriage bed of the cross, and had not also died to destroy our death.
it would have been enough for us
Had he died to destroy our death, but not become the great high priest, making intercession to the Father on our Behalf.
it would have been enough for us
Had he died to make intercession to the Father on our behalf, but not also made us a Eucharistic offering to him.
it would have been enough for us
Had he made us a Eucharistic offering to him, and not also presented us with his mother on the cross, and birthed the church from the wound in his side.
it would have been enough for us
Had he accomplished these things, but not also offered himself to break the cycles of sacrifice and scapegoating in human history.
it would have been enough for us
Had he broken the cycles of sacrifice and scapegoating in human history, but not also become like the bronze serpent of Moses, lifted up before all for our physical, spiritual, and emotional healing and deliverance.
it would have been enough for us
Had he become like the bronze serpent, lifted up before all for our healing, and had not also descended into the underworld to bankrupt the kingdom of Satan, take back the keys to everlasting life, and rescue our Mothers and Fathers from Sheol.
it would have been enough for us
Had he died for all these things and not rose to new life on the third day, to raise us to his everlasting life.
it would have been enough for us
Had he done all these things for not all humanity, but only a select few.
it would have been enough for us
Had he raised us to everlasting life, and not appeared to the disciples that he loved, making our faith in his divinity certain.
it would have been enough for us
Had he made his faith in our divinity historically certain, but not then restored his brother Peter, and called him to feed us; his sheep.
it would have been enough for us
Had he restored his brother Peter, accomplished many more mysteries with his disciples, and not then ascended to the Father.
it would have been enough for us
Had he ascended to the Father, and not then then sent his spirit.
it would have been enough for us
Had he sent his spirit, and not given us the sacraments, the creeds, the institution of his visible church, and the scriptures.
it would have been enough for us
Had he done all these things, and not reformed, restored, and renewed his people through the ages, by sending those he loved; apostles, martyrs, prophets, theologians, saints, teachers, mystics, pastors, brothers and sisters. Holy men and women of God, and the movements of renewal, and all manner of gifts including healing and prophesy, by his Holy Spirit.
it would have been enough for us
Had he done all these things, and were not with us today, fulfilling his promise to never leave or forsake us.
it would have been enough for us
Had he only become man, taking on our nature; and not offered us his nature, becoming the sons and daughters of God.
it would have been enough for us
_
Father of Lights, you are the giver of all good things.
You have given us your son Jesus Christ. Christ is risen from the dead, he has trampled over death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!
Amen, Come lord Jesus and destroy our death!
All hail king Jesus, Victorious King, who has come to give us life, and life to the full.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus and Raise us to life!
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The Spirit and the Bride say come.
All creation groans and waits for your coming again.
We confidently know that you will come again and make all things new.
Amen and Alleluia!
Christ has come. Christ is coming. Christ is coming again!
Come Lord Jesus!
Thanks. Powerful litany. ... and yet I think maybe he had to die, given the deep wounding of sin ... as we have to.
Amen.