April 23, 2011
The Resurrection of the Lord
Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. Romans 6:5-6
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." Matthew 28:5-7
Piety
Father, we thank you for helping us prepare for the new dawn. We thank you for the gifts of creation old and new. We thank you for your forgiving spirit that conquers our selfish nature. Jesus, without you, we would still be living in darkness. We ask you to send forth your Spirit so that we may be re-created anew this morning to imitate only the best in you and those around you and thus, become worthy of the promises you made and the redemption you secured. Amen.
Study
Lent is a term which is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for the season of spring. As the light of the resurrection is blessed on this holy night, we now have a chance to spring from the penitent season of Lent into the joy of the Easter Resurrection.
Our path to this is marked by a summary of salvation history that we hear in the series of readings, psalms and sacraments that make up this sacred occasion. From the first sounds of Genesis, God wants us to share in everything that creation has to offer from the light to the air to the water to the Word. Despite all those good gifts, we strayed far from the presence and obedience that guided Abraham through his trials.
Even though we strayed, we continued to cry out to the Lord to help us find our way and the Lord encouraged us to go forward and not turn back to our sinful past and distractions in the present. No matter what our reaction, throughout Lent, the Lord reminds us that He will always take us back.
If we had only believed in the first place, then we would already be dwelling in a place of enduring peace. Instead, we live, like the disciples, lives of doubt and denial, certain in only one thing – we will sin again and He will take us back again and again and again to this very day and night.
The new creation that emerges from the darkness of tonight will grant us “a new heart and place a new spirit” to replace those hearts and spirits which have been hardened in selfishness and disobedience.
So despite the flaws and failures and betrayals and denials of the disciples, at the foot of the cross, we see the women who have served Jesus standing steadfast. And that vigil continues with Mary at the entrance to the cave, continuing to seek Jesus despite death while the disciples remain scattered and hiding.
Action
If Lent has been our springboard to Easter, then perhaps our path to imitating Christ can start by imitating the certainty of the women who supported Jesus while others fled. They set aside their self, their wants and their fears in order to encounter the Christ and tell His story to others. May we do the same as we pursue a Joyous and Happy Easter!
