April 19.   HOLY SATURDAY. Scripture. Reflection.  Read John 11:1-43,  the story about the resurrection and the death of Lazarus, and try to discover more about the loving Jesus and those who experience human love as his love.  The retreat director focused more directly on the married couples but suggested that everyone could relate to the sense of desolation and loss that the apostles must have felt on this day after Jesus’ death and that we know that Jesus felt too at the death of his friend Lazarus. 

Discussion, sharing, action. Cyril and Prudence shared.  Cyril began, “Love one another as I have loved you” is the slogan chosen by Marriage Encounter which was for us a deeply moving experience. Our marriage had not been in a good place for some time and because I was hurting and feeling very lonely and abandoned I reluctantly agreed to participate in the programme.  I can’t even say exactly what it was that changed things so radically for us but listening to the stories of some couples and particularly through listening to each other as we were able to pour out our own feelings of desolation, and through experiencing God’s plan for our marriage to be a truly life-giving one with Jesus, as they said, as the 3rd partner became a real Resurrection moment for us.”   

Prudence added, “I truly believe that after that time of desolation we experienced Jesus’ love in the deepest possible way and I must say that we are still challenged  by those words to love one another, as he has loved and still loves us.”   They both smiled and he winked at her as they remembered the new baby that was born into their family at that time, already 40 years ago.

CHURCH TEACHING.  Christ did not live his life for himself but for us, from his Incarnation to his death and Resurrection. He is still “our advocate with the Father and remains ever in the presence of God on our behalf. CCC 519.   In all of his life Jesus presents himself as our model. He is the “perfect man” who invites us to become his disciples and follow him.  In humbling himself, he has given us an example to imitate, through his prayer he draws us to pray and by his poverty he calls us to accept freely the privation and persecutions that may come our way. CCC 520 JUBILEE.. the Christian community should be at the forefront in pointing out the need for a social covenant to support and foster hope, one that is inclusive and not ideological, working for a future filled with the laughter of babies and children, in order to fill the empty cradles in so many parts of our world. SN9