Holy Saturday – Waiting for the Light!
Easter – Season of New Life
We sit in the darkened church, lit only by our candles. The Easter fire has been lit and the Easter candle carried in procession to the front of the church. Our candles have been lit by its light. We sit in darkness awaiting the light of Christ, the Christ candle to be placed and the Exultat sung.
Is this how they awaited so many years ago, the early Christian community? Did they hide in darkness, afraid of persecution, being found out? How much of our life is waiting in darkness, waiting for the light so that we might proceed, walking in darkness when the light doesn’t appear?
But tonight the light appears. The Christ candle is placed, we extinguish our own candles and reflect on its light as the beautiful tones of the Exultat unfold and then the Gloria and the church is again filled with light. We sit in a light filled church, a beacon against the darkness outside. We sit with Christians throughout the world and throughout the years as we hear the story of salvation history through the readings. We sit, joined in this moment of time, moment of rejoicing. We welcome new members into the church through the waters of baptism, and welcome Jesus back into our sanctuary in the form of the Eucharist. Our time of waiting is over.
Christ, our Lord lives. Christ has conquered death. He is the light in our darkness.
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. Matthew 28:2-3
This post is part of a series of reflections on the Church year. click here to follow blog
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