Living
Easter Vigil
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
REFLECTION
The ancient ceremonies of the Easter Vigil go right back to the earliest days of the Church. It is the longest liturgy in the whole of the Church’s year. The ceremonies speak to us about the glorious truth; that Christ rose from the dead, that He lives and reigns forever and that death and the afterlife need hold no fear for us, thanks to his definitive and permanent victory over the grave. We spent the forty days of Lent preparing for this celebration. We have been forming ourselves for Easter and now it is here.
The readings begins with salvation history; the creation story; of how God created the world and meant it for good, of our sin came into this world , and ends with the resurrection story; of how Christ came into this world to redeem all mankind from sin and to reconcile us with our Heavenly Father and we as witness must carry on this good news to the ends of the earth until all is brought to one in him; to be all in all.
In other words, with Christ’s resurrection Creation attains its fulfillment in salvation. By his death and Resurrection life is gained and earth is renewed. By the power of his resurrection there is light and the end of the tunnel.
When the light of the world died the darkness covered the sky but when he rose from the dead he reigned forever and his kingdom will have no end; a kingdom of light and peace. Indeed right from creation, God speaks to us in various ways but when Christ came into the world, God is revealed through His Son. Matthew 3:17; Luke 9:35 and John 3:16. To accept Jesus therefore is to accept Eternal life for he has made creation salvific and to reject him is to everlasting life and that is horrific.
St. Paul’s tells us in his apostolic letter to the Romans that, by baptism we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The renewal of our baptismal promises is a key point to conversion and new members are welcomed today in the Christian community. This is a powerful demonstration of the truth of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit which the resurrection of Christ released.
The risen Lord is still drawing countless souls to Himself and tonight is a living proof of the Lord’s abiding power of attraction. Christ is the magnet of souls, and His resurrection is the unquenchable fountain of that divine power which He alone possesses. He created us and knows everything about us therefore we must become intimate with him every time and everyday all through our lives.
In this Vigil of all vigils, Christ is present with us as the Paschal light and lamb as he was in the upper room on the first Easter Day, as He was at Emmaus, as he was by the lake of Tiberius, and so many occasions when he made His apparitions to His disciples.
PRAYER
As we await the resurrection of the Lord, may we be privileged to rise with him in glory and righteousness. May God prepare us for the blessings that come with this glorious season. As we prepare to welcome Jesus under the roof 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
