Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 16, 2022 - 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]"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 with you 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. [Luke]
All of Holy Week is a special time of remembrance, but the Sacred Triduum concentrates that remembrance. The angels at the tomb tell Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the others who accompanied them to remember all that Jesus had told them in the course of his ministry about the fate that awaited him in Jerusalem. All of Jesus' earthly life is tied up in the events of these sacred days.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus gives us the means to celebrate his continued presence in our midst in a special way: the Eucharist. On Good Friday, Jesus gives us an example of the sacrificial love that we owe to others and a way to give meaning to all suffering. Tonight, Jesus shows us that death is not the final word to those who believe in him. In the darkness of the pandemic and the terrible war in Ukraine as well as sufferings everywhere of all kinds, a light of hope will shine in the lighting of the Paschal Candle and the hymn of praise will proclaim EXSULTET! The cry and message of all the Body of Christ is, "CHRIST IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!"
The Easter Vigil is, to some extent, a victim of its own success because the length of the ceremony, due to the wonderful witness of those who come for Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion, is daunting! I urge my Beloved Congregation to at least read the scriptures assigned for this evening, if you cannot attend, so that God's plan of salvation can unfold in your remembrance through the scriptures. Let the message of these days ring out. It is not "Happy Easter!" but CHRIST IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!