The Great Vigil of Easter is my favorite service of the entire year. It encompasses the whole story of our faith. Of course, any candlelight service has my full attention. This one has candles, bells, music and the blessing of Holy Water.
We are not Christians because a child was born in Bethlehem.
We are Christians because Jesus died and was resurrected. It is his willing sacrifice that provides us with grace. I am blessed and grateful.
We are not Christians based only on the life of Jesus Christ but we are part of a long and storied history which teaches us about the Creation and the Fall; the giving of the law and the deliverance from bondage in Egypt. The foundation of our faith was based on the law, fear of God, and obedience to his will.
The prophets have spoken throughout history to keep us on the right path and to promise that a Messiah would come offering forgiveness of sins and salvation for all. The Messiah would bring Love into the world and offer all the opportunity to view ourselves in the light of that love, freely offered, and to return it, not only to Jesus, but to spread that same love to everyone.
At the Great Vigil, we have come through Palm Sunday, the
Last Supper, the trials and crucifixion of Jesus and the time of grief after the death of Jesus. We are now ready to take the steps into living a new life. We start with a fire outside the church and light the Christ Candle to signify that the Light of Christ has returned to the world after the desolation of Good Friday.
We then light candles from the Christ Candle and move to the undercroft. We tell our faith story by candlelight to remember the first Christians who had to meet in secret, often underground, to hear the stories of our faith. We hear the stories; we offer prayers and reflections. We consider how fortunate we are that we do not have to meet in secret in fear of persecution. Somehow, the stories we have heard often, take on a greater meaning and significance when heard by candlelight in the hush of night. I am blessed and grateful.
The third part of the service is the joyous celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. The church is once more bearing the trappings of the Eucharist and the familiar cross and flowers. We renew our Baptismal Vows with a greater sense of their meaning because we have moved through Holy Week with Jesus. This one service speaks to me of the whole wonder of creation and redemption; of the love and forgiveness which I did nothing to earn, but that I feel so strongly and wish to share with everyone. I am blessed and grateful.