The Sacred Triduum reaches its climax and conclusion in the Light of Christ, Victor over sin and death. We are invited to receive His live-giving love and live with Him now and forever.
watch the video: Fr Vincent's reflections on the Easter Vigil
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Easter Vigil 2020
(Starting in a dark church with only the light of the Easter Candle by the Baptism Font.)
Thanks for joining me by video again, as we come to our third reflection on the Sacred Triduum. We are now at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, where we usually celebrate the Easter Vigil, with the lighting of the fire and blessing of the Paschal Candle, the initiation of our Catechumens and reception of our Candidates into Full Communion. Sadly, none of that is happening this evening. By special instruction, the Paschal Candle has already, without formality, been blessed and lit. The new waters will not be blessed until the Church gathers once more in her fullness when this pandemic has passed.
Yet, you are with me virtually so we can together experience something of the joy of Christ’s Resurrection and the new, spiritual life Jesus offers to each of us. Welcome!
The Vigil begins:
Dear brothers and sisters,
on this most sacred night,
in which our Lord Jesus Christ
passed over from death to life,
the Church calls upon her sons and daughters,
scattered throughout the world,
to come together to watch and pray.
If we keep the memorial
of the Lord’s paschal solemnity in this way,
listening to his word and celebrating his mysteries,
then we shall have the sure hope
of sharing his triumph over death
and living with him in God.
I would like briefly to review with you the seven Old Testament readings of the Vigil which take place before the Mass begins. These set the stage, as it were, for us to understand God’s love and our need for the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1 – 2:2 The seven days of creation reveal the power of God and His great love for humanity by giving us all of creation as a blessing for our lives.
Genesis 22:1-18 God asks Abraham to prove his fidelity through the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. Abraham’s act of faith shows his commitment and saves the life of his son.
Exodus 14:15 – 15:1 Moses frees the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and leads them miraculously through the Red Sea – freedom and new life through water which destroys evil.
Isaiah 54:5-14 Israel’s dins lead God toward punishment, but His great compassion always leads toward His mercy. God cannot help but to love His people.
Isaiah 55:1-11 God is generous beyond measure, and everything we truly need, God provides, without us worrying about paying it back.
Baruch 3:9-15, 32 – 4:4 Even though God’s people abandon Him, God cannot abandon them. God remains generous even when we are blind to His presence.
Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 Israel, dispersed in Exile, has forgotten God. Yet, God will keep His promise to save them; they need to learn obedience.
We now offer the Opening Prayer for the Vigil Mass:
Let us pray:
O God, who make this most sacred night radiant
with the glory of the Lord’s Resurrection,
stir up in your Church a spirit of adoption,
so that, renewed in body and mind,
we may render you undivided service.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us now listen to the proclamation of the Gospel for the Vigil: Matthew 28:1-10
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake;
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was white as snow.
The guards were shaken with fear of him
and became like dead men.
Then the angel said to the women in reply,
“Do not be afraid!
I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay.
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.”
Then they went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce this to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
The Gospel of the Lord. R/. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia! Jesus is risen from the dead! Alleluia!
We still celebrate the Resurrection even if we cannot gather as a congregation in the joy of this Easter Vigil. We anticipate, that is, with mind and heart focused on, the future moment when we will gather again, and know that even now God’s plan for renewal of life is real, even as Jesus’ Resurrection is real. More than ever, we need the spiritual celebration of new life in Christ. Though the world might be darkened by this ongoing pandemic, the power of God over death is undeniable. This is what we are asked to see and to hold – even as God sees us in our need and holds us in His love.
The power of this night’s celebration has always been one of the heart: feeling the life of Christ. Our senses cannot embrace it nor describe it fully. Many have been called to share most closely in the new life of the Risen Christ as they have succumb to covid-19. We challenge ourselves to see their victory side by side with Jesus. This is what Jesus wants for our Easter: not to think of our loss, but to be grateful for their gain! Our consolation will be made whole when we acknowledge their union with Jesus. The darkness has not overcome the Light; rather the Light banishes the darkness. This is our prayer, and this is our celebration today.
Whenever we gather again as the Church, the Body of Christ in worship, we will celebrate the Renewal of our Baptismal Promises. This font will overflow with the waters of rebirth, and we will be blessed by the Holy Water of Christ’s Resurrection. Let us pray that this will come sooner than later.
As with Holy Thursday, we will offer together the prayer of Spiritual Communion until we can share fulling in receiving the Body of Christ once more into our own bodies.
My Jesus, I believe that you are present
in the most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things and
I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there,
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
You are invited to join me tomorrow, Easter Sunday, for the last of the Holy Week video reflections to see how this week of prayer, sacrifice, and reflection has prepared us to live now and forever in the fullness of the life of Christ.
And now, I would like to offer you the Solemn Blessing of Easter:
May almighty God bless you
through today’s Easter Solemnity
and, in his compassion,
defend you from every assault of sin. R/. Amen.
And may he, who restores you to eternal life
in the Resurrection of his Only Begotten,
endow you with the prize of immortality. R/. Amen.
Now that the days of the Lord’s Passion have drawn to a close,
may you who celebrate the gladness of the Paschal Feast
come with Christ’s help, and exulting in spirit,
to those feasts that are celebrated in eternal joy. R/. Amen.
And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, ✠ and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever. R/. Amen.
Live in the peace of Christ, Alleluia, Alleluia!
R/. Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!
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