THE READINGS
- Genesis 1:1-2:2 and Psalm 104
- Genesis 22:1-18 and Psalm 16
- Exodus 14:15-15: and Psalm: Exod.15
- Isaiah 54:5-14 and Psalm 30
- Isaiah 55:1-11 and Psalm: Isaiah:12
- Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4 and Psalm 19
- Ezekiel 36:16-17a.18-28 and Psalm:42
- Romans 6:3-11 and Psalm:118
- Mark 16:1-7
The ancient ceremonies of the Easter Vigil date back to the earliest days of the Church. This is the longest liturgy in the entire Church year, conveying a glorious truth: Christ rose from the dead, lives, and reigns forever. Thanks to His definitive and permanent victory over the grave, we need not fear death or the afterlife. We have spent the forty days of Lent preparing for this celebration; we have been training for Easter, and now it is here.
The readings begin with the creation story, highlighting how God created the world with goodness in mind, followed by the entrance of sin into the world. They conclude with the resurrection story, which explains how Christ came to redeem all humanity from sin and reconcile us with our Heavenly Father. In essence, with Christ’s resurrection, creation reaches its fulfillment in salvation. Through His death and resurrection, life is restored, and the earth is renewed. By the power of His resurrection, there is light at the end of the tunnel. When the Light of the World died, darkness covered the sky; but upon rising from the dead, He reigns forever, and His kingdom will have no end.
From the very beginning, God has communicated with us in various ways. However, when Christ came into the world, God was revealed through His Son (Matthew 3:17, Luke 9:35, and John 3:16). To accept Jesus is to accept eternal life; He has made creation salvific. Conversely, to reject Him is to choose everlasting separation, which is truly horrific.
St. Paul, in his apostolic letter to the Romans, tells us that through baptism, we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The renewal of our baptismal promises represents a key moment of conversion, and today, new members are welcomed into the Christian community. This serves as a powerful demonstration of the truth of the resurrection and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit unleashed by Christ’s resurrection. The risen Lord continues to draw countless souls to Himself, and tonight is a testament to His enduring power of attraction. Christ is the magnet for souls, and His resurrection is the never-ending fountain of divine power He alone possesses. He created us and knows everything about us, and we must strive to grow closer to Him every day throughout our lives.
In this Vigil of all vigils, Christ is present with us as the Paschal light and lamb, just as He was in the upper room on the first Easter Day, at Emmaus, by the lake of Tiberius, and on numerous occasions when He appeared to His disciples. As we prepare to welcome Jesus into the depths of our hearts in the Eucharist, may Christ, who rose from the tomb, breathe upon us His life-giving and consoling Spirit, and may He shed His peaceful light upon us all. Amen.
Fr Joseph Osho
