Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 15, 2017 - Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter - ABC
[Use at least three, or up to seven readings from the OT, but always include #3: 1) Gen 1:1-2:2 or 1, 26-31a 2) Gen 22:1-18 or 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 3) Exod 14:15-15:1 4) Isa 54:5-14 5) Isa 55:1-11 6) Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4 7) Ezek 36:16-17a, 18-28; NT Reading: Rom 6:3-11 Response after the Epistle: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 [refrain: triple Alleluia""]"; Gospels for Years A, B, C: A- Matt 28:1-10 B- Mark 16:1-7 C- Luke 24:1-12,58]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. [Romans] "Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you." [Matthew]
The Easter Vigil is an incredibly rich (and lengthy!) service but well worth the effort to attend. But if you cannot do that, try and read the scriptures for the service because they capture the broad scope of God's plan of salvation. That being said, the baptismal significance of the Vigil is worth noting. I have quoted from the epistle and the gospel scriptures for the evening because together they capture the central meaning of the Vigil.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not just events that happened more than 2,000 years ago. The Easter Vigil is a reminder that these are "living" events that we are part of. St. Paul points out that our baptism identifies us with Jesus in a newness of life. Baptism is not an event of our past but a present power and identity. This is why we touch the Holy Water at the entrance of the church and make the Sign of the Cross. (Do we remember to say the words, too?) Water and the words, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," brought us into the Body of Christ! That traditional Catholic practice is more than ritual!
The quotation from the Gospel According to Matthew is the message of the angel at Jesus' tomb to Mary Magdalen and "the other Mary" that they are to announce the resurrection to the disciples. That message is directed to us as well. Our brothers and sisters of the Eastern church don't say, "Happy Easter!" They say, "Christ is risen!" And the response is, "He is truly risen!"("Christos anesthe!" "Alethe aneste!") Could we not try that this year instead of "Happy Easter?" Our baptism commits us to that announcement and declaration of faith. Christ is risen! Tell everybody! AMEN
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