Word to the Wise
Saturday, March 30, 2013 - 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 24:1-12,233]"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]
It is not easy to think of baptism as death! It is far more pleasant to think of it as a life-giving event. It is that, indeed, but the early Christian community [and the church now] also saw it as a form of "re-birth" that meant identifying entirely with Jesus' life, death and resurrection. The practice of baptism involved literally putting someone under water, a place of darkness and chaos, and bringing them back up to new light! This is the particular emphasis of the Easter Vigil! It is supposed to begin in darkness, which is penetrated by the new light of the Easter candle - the symbol of Christ's triumphant resurrection! The powerful scriptures to be read at the Vigil, beginning with Genesis, show how we are identified with all of God's plan throughout history!
Unfortunately, many of us don't attend the Easter Vigil any longer because of the length of the service due to the baptismal rite - a powerful experience - that forms the center of the whole occasion! We attend on Easter Sunday where we celebrate the resurrection, but without seeing our own connection to it through baptism! St. Paul's powerful words capture the reality! We are baptized into the death of Christ so that we may rise with him to new life! If you cannot attend the Vigil, I hope you can find a misalet and read through the service, especially the scriptures. Perhaps you may know someone being baptized or received into the church at the Vigil. I have had the privilege of celebrating that many times and have seen the joy that comes with it. Christ is risen, but so are we! AMEN