Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil)

Reflection

There is a “The Family Circus” Easter Sunday cartoon of the little girl getting out of bed on Easter Sunday morning and telling her mother, “What I like best about Easter Sunday is the candy, and Jesus not bein’ dead anymore.”

I expect that as youngsters we all looked forward to an Easter basket filled with a chocolate Easter bunny and lots of multi-colored candy Easter eggs; I know I did. But the rest of the child’s comment is, of course, also right-on. We rejoice at this Easter Vigil and on Easter morn because Jesus is “not dead anymore.”

In the film version of the popular musical Jesus Christ Superstar, there is no explicit Resurrection scene but, at its end, the film clearly implies the Resurrection of Jesus through the symbol of a glorious sunrise on the horizon. At this Easter Vigil, the Church’s liturgy joyously encourages us to renew and strengthen our faith and hope in Jesus’ glorious rising from death, the promise of our own ultimate rising from death to eternal life. So:

Prayer

“Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!  The risen Savior shines upon you!  Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!” (Easter Proclamation)

Fr. Ray Doherty, S.S.E. ’51, Campus Minister

Scripture

First Reading: Genesis 1:1-2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a

Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12-14, 24, 35 or Psalm 33:4-7, 12-13, 20, 22
Second Reading: Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Psalm 16:5, 8-11
Third Reading: Exodus 14:15—15:1
(Psalm) Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18
Fourth Reading: Isaiah 54:5-14
Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13
Fifth Reading: Isaiah 55:1-11
(Psalm) Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6
Sixth Reading: Baruch 3:9-15, 32—4:4
Psalm 19:8-11
Seventh Reading: Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28
Psalm 42:3, 5; 43:3-4
Eighth Reading: Romans 6:3-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Gospel: Mark 16:1-7

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website