From Fast to Feast - Easter Vigil

O Most Holy Night - Easter Vigil 

We arrive hungry, excited, eager after fasting, praying and waiting together. We gather in the darkness, the church as deep and silent as a tomb. The scent of Easter pervades the space as spring flowers tease us with their aroma. The allure adds to our excitement that soon, we will be swathed in the light of Christ that will give us sight to see what our other senses inform us waits in the darkness.

Light. Smoke. Story. Water. Oil. Neophyte. Scent. Bread. Wine. Prayers. Music. Blessing. Earth joins heaven through sensory symbols as people of the cross, of light, of chrism oil and church community, of feast and and banquet of bread and cup. The light of Christ leads us to Word, baptismal, chrism and banquet into the paschal mystery. We go into the tomb of darkness with Christ in his death and emerge in the light of Christ in his resurrection.

A robust fire warms us, draws us into its smokey scent as we await the Service of Light to begin. As last year's oils mingle with wood and flame and add aromatic blaze to prayer and blessing, this holy fire lends its light to the Paschal Candle, symbol of Christ, the light of the world. The candle is dated, blessed and praised, marking it as a symbol of Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things, of all time. The procession of pilgrims follows the single Light into the dark church in hushed anticipation. 

From Christ, we become the light of the world and symbolically light our own candles from the Paschal Candle.

The Easter candle glows as the pillar of fire that honors God. Church ablaze, we hear the great hymn of praise, the Exsultet. “Rejoice, Mother Church! Let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples!”

By its shared light of the saving Messiah, we can hear and understand how God breaks into the loving story of life, our life throughout all of time within the readings of sacred scripture. All is retold and done this night in the light of Christ.

We sing Psalm 118 as the Alleluia breaks into the night with loud cries of the tryptich of Alleluia! Give thanks to the Lord for all God has done for us! Praise God, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

We invoke all of heaven in a powerful litany, asking the saints, named and unnamed to stand with us, pray with us and for us as we go to the font and bless the waters.

There the elect are baptized through sacred water, confirmation that strengthens us with God’s love for the work ahead.

Those seeking full communion with the church become signed with the seal of the Spirit of God through the oil of sacred Chrism. 

Christians everywhere renew their own baptism promises, renouncing the darkness of evil in the full light of Easter faith, mercy and justice. 

Bolstered by our story through sacred scripture and jubilant in the baptism and anointing of neophytes, we process with confidence to the source and summit of our faith – the Eucharist in the elements of bread and wine, changed by the power of the Spirit at the feast of life into Christ’s body and blood, given completely in inconceivable love for us all through the gracious love of God. This sharing at the table of sacrifice, nourishment and reconciliation calls us to be a people aware of the vastness of God’s mercy in our lives and in our world

In this sharing of Christ’s body and blood, we become the Body of Christ in service to the world with particular attention to those who have the most need. Through this final step, our beloved elect and candidates enter the Church in full communion as the people of God and begin a new life led by the wondrous love of the Spirit of God.

We continue to pray and support our neophytes, the Church's newest daughters and sons as they enter the Church as full members. One hundred thousand welcomes, new Christians everywhere! Reborn through water and the Spirit along, they are our precious symbol of new creation within life in Christ. 

Throughout the 50 days of Easter, Mother Church rejoices in our Christian witness that centuries of disciples have professed. The joyful days are celebrated from Easter to Pentecost as one great feast day of exultation because we just cannot bring ourselves to end this feast of feasts. The Church continues to bask in memory, in mystagogia, an unfolding of the mysteries celebrated at the Vigil.

Here is our tradition: we hand on what was handed on to us. We are the yeast in the world, Christ’s body broken and poured out for others. Christians, symbol and sign of the risen Christ alive and active in the world here and now, building the reign of God in this time and place.

A generous heart

Earlier this morning, I received a message and a picture that reflected what faithful church-goers experience on holy days. "ChrEasters!!" the message read, translated: #ChristmasandEasterchurchgoers. 

While I completely understand the frustration of trying to find a place to park, a pew to sit and the presumed arrogance of people who 'stay away' for most of the liturgical year, think of the joy that Christ must feel at the return of our sisters and brothers who only show up occasionally. Perhaps the work ahead of us might be to cast the net wide and see what the catch may reap if we roll up our sleeves and find out why these people stay away and gently persuade them to return more often them once or twice a year. Mercy, generosity and 'field work' may be the task at hand as we commit to Easter discipleship. 

My favorite quote is from a homily given by St. John Chrystostom on this topic. 

 "If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.

If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.

If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.

If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.

If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.

For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.

He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other he is gracious.

He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.

O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!

O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!

You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!

The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!

The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!

Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.

Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.

All is forgiven on Resurrection Day!" 

From the Paschal homily of St. John Chrystostom (d. 407 CE)