The Easter Vigil: Free and Risen with Christ

Saturday April 3

The Easter Vigil: Free and Risen with Christ

1. I Was There
2. Liberated and Living in the Covenant of Love

Structure of the Rite.

The Easter Vigil rite harmoniously integrates everything in one continuous celebration that follows the normal structure of the eucharistic celebration.

The Liturgy of the Light is the opening rite of the Mass.

The Liturgy of the Word is an expanded version of the usual Liturgy of the Word, so that we can hear about God liberating his people both in the Old and in the New Testaments; here the Gloria comes after the readings from the Old Testament and before those of the New Covenant to mark our entering into the definitive covenant of joy and life.

After the gospel and the homily comes the Baptismal Liturgy, everywhere with the blessing of water and the renewal of baptismal vows, and in parishes hopefully with an actual baptism. In the case of the baptism of an adult, if the celebrant has also helped in the preparation for baptism of the candidate, the law itself entitles him to confer also the rite of confirmation, without recourse to the bishop.

Finally comes the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Those participating in it are considered to have complied with the Office of Readings for Easter.

General Introduction by the Celebrant or a Commentator

As there is an introduction by the Presiding Celebrant for each part of tonight’s celebration, a suitable lay minister could give the general introduction at the beginning of the service.

1. I Was There

The reality of the whole Easter event is so tremendous and real for us that we must relive it as not just an event from the past but something present and real affecting us today. When Jesus died on the cross, I was there and looked up to him. When Jesus died on the cross and was buried, I was there and died and was buried with him, for I have been baptized in his death. When Jesus rose from the dead, I was there with him, for I rose with him to the new life of baptism. When Jesus, as the firstborn from the dead, went ahead of us to the promised land of heaven, I was there with him and I began, with the whole people of God, my journey to the promised land of heaven and I am still on the way in hope. Sisters and brothers, this is what we relive in this Easter celebration. It is our greatest celebration, for it is the celebration of life and joy.

2. LIBERATED FOR THE COVENANT OF LOVE

Tonight we celebrate the capital, central event for Christianity: the liberation of God’s people from the slavery of sin, so that they can enter into the new and everlasting covenant whereby God, at his own initiative, binds his people to himself in a deep union of life and love. For God’s people in the Old Testament God saw the hardships they suffered in their slavery in Egypt, liberated them and made with them the covenant through Moses on Mount Sinai. For us Christians, God saw our slavery to sin and our inability to get rid of it. So he sent Jesus, his own Son, to make us free by his death on the cross on Mount Golgotha and by his resurrection. Now we are a free people, capable of love and service and justice. We celebrate this freedom and covenant this very night.

PART I: SERVICE OF THE LIGHT

Introduction by the Celebrant

Dear People of God: At the beginning of the Jewish Easter celebration the youngest in the group asked: “Why is this night so different from all other nights?” and the head of the family answered: Tonight we celebrate because once we were slaves under the Pharaoh of Egypt, but the Lord God has set us free and led his people out of Egypt with joy.” When we Christians ask ourselves tonight: “Why celebrate in the dark of the night?” we answer, “We begin our celebration in the dark because we were once slaves in the darkness of sin, but the Lord Jesus has set us free by dying for us on the cross. But in the night of Easter he rose from the dead and brought us the life of his risen life. There he made us God’s new chosen people and became our light to lead us to the promised land.” This is why we light the fire and the Easter candle as we sing our praise and thanks to God.

Then follow the blessing of the fire, the lighting of the Easter candle, the procession into the church and the Exsultet.

PART II. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

Introduction by the Celebrant

We listen now to the Word of God with open ears and hearts and with great joy. God’s Word tonight speaks of the liberation of the people of God, old and new, and therefore how we too have been liberated by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Note. The seven Old Testament readings may be reduced to three. Exodus 14, on the passover from Israel to the Promised Land, should always be among those selected.

First Reading (Gen 1:1-2, 2:2): The Beautiful Poem of Creation

In this first act of salvation, God created order out of chaos and light out of darkness. He created man and woman in his own image and entrusted the earth and its resources to them to develop.

Holy Saturday 
At the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter

 Epistle: Rom 6:3-11

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus 
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through 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.

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.
For a dead person has been absolved from sin.
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
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.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:.
The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
R. Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:.
The stone the builders rejected 
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:, Verse before the Gospel:.

Gospel: The Lord Is Risen!

To their surprise, the women do not find the body of Jesus in the tomb, for he is risen. They have to announce this good news to the apostles. It is also our Good News.

Gospel: Mk 16:1-7

When the sabbath was over,
Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome
bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.
Very early when the sun had risen,
on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.
They were saying to one another,
"Who will roll back the stone for us
from the entrance to the tomb?"
When they looked up,
they saw that the stone had been rolled back;
it was very large.
On entering the tomb they saw a young man
sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe,
and they were utterly amazed.
He said to them, "Do not be amazed!
You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.
He has been raised; he is not here.
Behold the place where they laid him.
But go and tell his disciples and Peter,
'He is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him, as he told you.'"

PART III. THE LITURGY OF BAPTISM

Note. If the baptismal font is to be blessed, whether there are actual baptisms or not, the Litany of the Saints is sung or prayed. If the font is not to be blessed, there is a blessing of holy water, followed by the renewal of baptismal vows.

Introduction by the Celebrant 

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Brothers and sisters in Christ in this beautiful night we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By dying he destroyed death for us, by rising he has affirmed our life. In baptism we have died with him to sin but we have not yet won all our struggles against evil and God’s life in us has not yet come to full bloom. This is why the Church invites us again to reject what is against the covenant of love and to promise, as we did in baptism, to live according to its law of service and goodness. We renew our baptismal promises. And so:

Do you reject...

Do you believe...

Intercessions

Where the Litany of the Saints has been used at baptism and/or the blessing of the font, it serves as General Intercessions. Otherwise:

Let us pray to God our Father, who has raised Jesus from the dead, and let us say:

R/ Lord raise us up with your Son.

–   For those who have been baptized tonight and for all Christians, that they may remain faithful to their baptismal promises in all circumstances of life, let us pray:

R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

–   For all who suffer and for the dying that their hope and strength may be Jesus, who, through and beyond death, has built a road to new life, let us pray:

R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

–   For all those whose experiences have discouraged or disillusioned them in life, that they may not remain obsessed by the past but look forward to the future with its new prospects and opportunities, let us pray:

 R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

–   For all those who have committed themselves to serve the needs of others, that they may keep faith in a better world in which peace and justice are not empty words, let us pray:

R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

–   For all of us gathered here in the joy of Easter, that we may be happy and jovial people who know that God loves us with an enduring love and that we may radiate this love on one another, let us pray:

R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

Our God and Father, you call us your sons and daughters and that is what we really are. Make us gratefully cooperate with you in the works of your creating and serving love and to look forward in hope to the happiness without end promised us in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Prayer Over the Gifts

Lord, God of life,
you gather us around this table
to celebrate the Easter meal
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept with this bread and this wine
the prayers and offerings of your people.
Make our faith firm,
that your Son may continue
to live in us and to lead us to you,
our living and loving God for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let our joy brim over in this eucharist as we give thanks to the Father for having saved us by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Invitation to the Our Father

Sons and daughters of the Father through baptism,
let the joy of the Spirit cry out in us
in Jesus’ own words. R/ Our Father...

Invitation to Communion

This is our risen Lord, who said
and says again to us this night:
“I am the bread of life.
Those who eat my flesh and drink by blood
have eternal life and I live in them.”
With this faith, come to the table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, our Father,
with joy we have shared
in the Easter meal of your Son.
Through his body and blood you have assured us
that we are destined for eternal life
and that this life is already stirring in us.
Keep filling us with the Spirit of your love,
that we may live in the joy of your one people,
one in heart and mind,
and living for one another and for you,
our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

Blessing

What an experience of joy
if we have really relived tonight
what we have become through Jesus’ resurrection.
May we keep living in the hope and happiness
of a people that is risen above sin and evil
and live for all that is good and beautiful.
May the almighty and loving God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

R/ Thanks be to God.

Commentary 

The Liturgy of the Church wanted to make this day a time of silence, of meditation, of welcoming into our hearts the mystery of Jesus who died and who would rise again. Hence there is no celebration of the Eucharist today nor have we got the Gospel for our reflection! What we have is the Easter Vigil - which is already part of the celebration of Easter and we still have time to reflect on the Easter

The term ‘vigil’ refers to waiting… in anticipation of something to happen… waiting for the birth of a child; keeping watch of a dear one who is dying. But… Waiting is the last thing we want to talk about. We are living in a world of instant coffee and instant noodles… We grow impatient even when the internet signals are weak! Our age is characterized by impatience. We rush about our lives refusing to ever wait for things.

Holy Saturday teaches us of the value of patience and waiting. Imagine that Sabbath morning after a brutal killing during the Passover in Jerusalem. It appeared like a lost battle? There was nothing to hope for and no one to wait for – as far as the disciples are concerned.

In spite of this hopelessness, there was someone who anticipated something big to happen after the death of Jesus – that was the Blessed Mother. She must have been sure that life of the Son of God would not end on the Cross nor would it disappear in a tomb. She knew for sure that there would be an Easter and all she had to do was to patiently wait. This one day could be the longest day in the life of Mary – for she is waiting. We don’t see her running to the tomb with rest of the women on the Easter Morning.

On the Holy Saturday, the Blessed Mother brings us the most important message for us: Be patient, It is just the beginning and not the end. How fast do we plunge into anxiety and despair when tragedies strike us? When faced with failures in life or rejection from family and people whom we considered most important to us? We look for immediate answers for our prayers and demand instant results. Remember the famous prayer: “Lord give me patience and give it to me right now!”

Let us be patient, the Lord hasn’t finished with us yet!