Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 4, 2015 - 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 24:1-12,147]Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were indeed buried with him through baptism intodeath, so that, just as Christ was raised by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. [Romans]
How many of us remember our baptism? Very few, I suspect. I ask that question at the beginning of each parish mission. My goal is to have those who come to the mission realize that baptism is not a past event but a present power within us! This is what St. Paul is trying to say to us about baptism, but because most of us were infants at the time of our baptism, we have no memory of it beyond seeing a certificate at certain points - first communion, confirmation, matrimony, etc.. To understand the power of baptism in a liturgical way, the Easter Vigil is a wonderful opportunity. Those who come into the church at the Easter Vigil never forget it.
The law of unintended consequences affects all human endeavor, and the Easter Vigil is no exception. The emphasis on baptism (a result of the wonderful RCIA process) at the service has expanded to include those who were baptized in other Christian churches and even those returning to the church after years away. This has had the effect of lengthening the service considerably so that often the majority of attendees in some places are connected by various bonds to those who are being baptized or confirmed, etc. etc. The rest of the parishioners wait and go to Mass on Easter Sunday. Even when a parish reduces the number of scriptures to be read (the two I listed above from Genesis and Exodus are compulsory), the service is still a long one even if a powerful one!
The lighting of the Paschal Candle, the powerful scriptures with the "ALLELUIA" for the first time since Ash Wednesday, the liturgy of baptism, and the Eucharist give a liturgical dimension to the resurrection of the Lord can cannot be duplicated in any other service of the year. I remember receiving one young woman into the church at an Easter Vigil and at communion time, when she went to receive from the cup, she broke down in tears because a friend of hers was the minister and the joy of the occasion overcame them both! I pray that as many as possible of the Beloved Congregation can at least attend the Easter Vigil once in awhile, if only to remember that we too can have that joy and know the power of baptism. It is the real meaning of ALLELUIA! AMEN!