Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil)

Reflection

“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.” Thus begins the Liturgy of the Word for the Easter Vigil celebration anticipating the resurrection from the dead of Jesus, the carpenter’s son who was born of Mary of Nazareth.

The Word on this holy night calls to mind the creative action of God and how He continued to make all things new through the gift of water and the Holy Spirit. The several passages proclaimed serve as a summary of our salvation history dramatically illustrating how God worked through human events to bring us to the empty tomb from which Jesus was raised from the dead. “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?” is asked of the women at the tomb who are looking to perform the traditional post-burial anointing of Jesus’ body. This encounter sparks the beginning of resurrection faith but it would take much reflection and prayer to fully comprehend the meaning of Jesus being raised from the dead.

Some two-thousand years later we continue to reflect on the importance of the resurrection in our contemporary lives. The resurrection of Jesus is the central doctrine of our Christian faith and without it everything else in our faith would be meaningless. The empty tomb is followed by various instances of the disciples encountering the living Lord among them in ordinary settings. On the road to Emmaus, in the Upper Room, cooking on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, — “It is the Lord” as the beloved disciple exclaims. How do you notice the presence of the risen Christ in the ordinariness of your life?

Prayer

Almighty God, out of nothing You initiated creation, out of death You brought life, and You continue to make all things new with Your abiding Spirit among us. Strengthen our Resurrection Faith these days and fill us with Easter joy. Amen.

Fr. Brian Cummings, S.S.E. ‘86, Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry

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: Luke 24:1-12

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website