On this most sacred night we watch and pray – and live
Reflections on the readings for Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil (April 11, 2020): GN 1:1–2:2; PS 104:1-2,5-6,10,12,13-14,24,35; GN 22:1-18; PS 16:5,8,9-10,11; EX 14:15–15:1; EX 15:1-2,3-4,5-6,17-18; IS 54:5-14; PS 30:2,4,5-6,11-12,13; IS 55:1-11; IS 12:2-3,4,5-6; BAR 3:9-15,32–4:4; PS 19:8,9,10,11; EZ 36:16-17,18-28; PS 42:3,5;43:3,4; ROM 6:3-11; PS 118:1-2,16-17,22-23; MT 28:1-10
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
As we rejoice with the Risen Christ on this Holy Night of Easter, we not only celebrate His triumph over death, but also our own share in this wondrous gift.
St. Paul reminded the early Christians of something we also must treasure – that we are intimately united with our Lord now and forever. “We were indeed buried with Him though baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. As to His death, He died to sin once and for all; as to His life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:4, 10-11). After the long somber days of Lent, we are only too happy to put aside thoughts of sacrifice and mortality. Yet, it is now, on this side of the Resurrection, that we can truly see Lent as the preparation it is. The Son of God came from heaven to join us on earth so that we understand what Divine love actually means to us who are so very human.
During these last weeks we contemplated Jesus teaching His disciples how to live in faith, hope and love. We meditated on His miracles and on His words. Finally, we grasped the meaning of the Holy Eucharist, Christ’s body and blood, soul and divinity, given to us at the Last Supper because He would offer His whole and entire Self on the cross the next day. That’s how we can join ourselves with Him now, first through Baptism and then through other sacraments. Our Savior wants us to be with Him, here and now and, ultimately, in heaven. He wants us to only know joy and peace not only in eternity, but in time as well. The more we open ourselves to His grace and mercy, the more completely we are transformed. We think more like our Lord, we love more like our Lord, and we serve more like our Lord. This is life as it is meant to be lived. This is Alleluia!
