Easter Vigil
Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20
“The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory.”
Photo by BBC Creative on Unsplash
The Great Easter Vigil is one of the earliest Christian liturgies. It is observed at night to emphasize Christ’s coming as light. The paschal candle is carried in to symbolize the light entering the darkness of the world.
Nine readings from the Old Testament tell the story of God’s gracious acts for us. Stories of creation, the flood, Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, and the Exodus are followed by readings from Isaiah, Proverbs, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. The New Testament selections emphasize God's victory and God’s presence with us.
The service continues with baptism and the Lord’s Supper. In the early days of the church, the catechumens were baptized and received after two years of instruction. Some churches still follow this practice today.
As we wait to celebrate the resurrection there is no better time to review God’s mighty acts in our own lives. Even when we have felt overwhelmed by floods of sorrow, and oppressed by the expectations of others, God has been with us. We have been promised a new heart and a new spirit. The resurrection of Jesus assures us of that certainly.
For Reflection: Where in the events of my life do I see God’s hand most clearly?
Prayer Seed:
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters;
Let them with unmoistened foot, through the Red Sea waters.
John of Damascus (675-749)
