Holy Saturdday Meditation/ Fr. Bert April 2, 2010

Scripture: Lectionary #42: Nine lessons for Vigil (usually 3 are read at
the service). Romans 6:3-11. Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23. Luke 24:1-12.

Christ our Pasch has been sacrificed! We keep this thought of St. Paul in
mind as we begin our Vigil for the Resurrection of the Lord. (see I
Cor.5:7). His words are the first to identify Jesus with the Passover Lamb
who is sacrificed. In our opening of the Vigil we have a new beginning as
the year is inscribed on the newly lit Paschal Candle. Then we listen to
the readings--there are nine of them but usually three are chosen. They
are helpful for our personal prayer where we could sit down and take the
time to read all nine before the service. We discover that the readings
move from creation to our baptism into Christ in Romans 6:3-11 where Paul
definitely joins us to the person of Christ in his suffering, death, and
resurrection. We renew our own baptism and celebrate those who are
receiving their baptism. Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Baruch, and Ezekiel are
among those revealers of God's word who are chosen for this Vigil.

Though we may have been baptized at birth, we need the years of experience
to fully grasp what that initiation into the Church and its sacraments
means. It takes a life-time to fully appreciate what is taking place
within us because of our being baptized into Christ. We, therefore, return
year after year to repeat our baptismal vows at the Vigil and to support
those being baptized. The fresh waters of the baptismal font, the new
flame coming from the Easter Candle and then being shared with all who
participate enables us to prepare for the sacrament conferred on others and
our own sharing of the blessed bread and sacred wine--the Person of Christ
among us in sacramental reality of word ans symbol. Christ is now alive
and resurrected and the cold night of Friday that inveighed the tomb is now
flooded with light.

Suddenly we are hearing the Gospel read from the talented evangelist who
has a certain touch with his literary style giving us the first narrative
of the Resurrection. The women--Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and the other
Mary, mother of James are mentioned as the newcomers and initiators of
resurrection events. They find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
With them as our models we too listen to the angel : "Why do you seek the
living one among the dead. He is not here! Indeed he has been raised."

Later Peter comes to the tomb according to Luke and he sees the cloths
lying there. His head starts spinning as he remembers the predictions
Jesus gave to the disciples. The darkness of night and its fears are
passed. All is light and we too realize "Christ is truly risen, Alleluia!
Alleluia! Amen. Amen.00