Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 3, 2010 - Holy Saturday - The Easter Vigil
[Genesis 1:1-12 - 2:2 OR Exodus 14:15 - 15:1; Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12]Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. [Romans] "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words.
After the terrible events of yesterday, many of us on our pilgrimage would be tempted to join the two disciples who walk past us on the road to Emmaus. But Moses, Paul and Luke, our guides for today, persuade us to stay because, as the old saying puts it, "You haven't seen anything yet!" We are told that we need to stop for a bit so that some context can be provided for what happened yesterday and what will happen tonight! Most of the context is a matter of recalling all that scripture has captured of the faith of our ancestors that will help us make sense of events, especially the Creation Story and the Exodus, but also the words of the ancient prophets. This long "remembrance" is accompanied by a highly symbolic visual aid: a candle that is lit from a small fire and whose flame is then used to light small tapers that we have been given. The light of what has happened and what will happen will slowly "dawn" on us! It is when Paul reminds us of our baptism and what it means in terms of being united with Christ in the events of yesterday and today and for the rest of time that we really begin to put the picture together and start the joyful shout: ALLELUIA!! With that word on our minds, hearts and lips, we head for the tomb and with the women from Galilee are told, "He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you....." Together with the women and the whole Christian community down through the centuries, we remember his words. Perhaps many of us have been avoiding the liturgical celebration of these events going on back home because "It takes too long with all those baptisms and confirmations....!" Now we wish they could all be here so we can join in the joy of those who will become members of the community. We pray for them and for the world and for ourselves that we can live more faithfully the baptismal commitment that enables us to remember the words of Jesus. In the meantime, we can make a resolution to let our pilgrimage live on each year and attend the Easter Vigil with a genuine sense of the joyful shout: CHRIST IS RISEN!! ALLELUIA!! In the meantime, we run after the two who are on the road to Emmaus! AMEN
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