Gen. 1:1-- 2:2; Gen. 22:1-18; Exod. 14:15—15:1; Is. 54:5-14; Is 55:1-11; Bar. 3:9-15.32—4:4; Ezek. 36:16-17.18-28; Rom 6:3-11; Matt. 28:1-10
THE EASTER VIGIL, THE NIGHT OF ALL NIGHTS
Holy Saturday is the third day of the Sacred Triduum. In the evening, we celebrate the Easter Vigil, “the Passover in honour of the Lord”. The liturgy of the Easter Vigil is made up of four parts, namely, the service of light, the liturgy of the Word, the liturgy of baptism and the liturgy of the Eucharist.
The liturgy of the Word invites us to meditate on the Salvation History, how God has been so close to mankind since creation. The great events that mark this history have been wrought in the night. The first act of creation was the victory of light over darkness: “let there be light” and there was light (Gen. 1:3). It was at night that God saved the Israelites from slavery through the Passover meal, liberating them from the power of Pharaoh. It was at night that he led them dry-shod through the red sea (Ex. 14). It was at night that our Saviour was born in Bethlehem. It was at night that Jesus rose from the dead, breaking the chains of death. It could be said that Easter is essentially a passage: the passage from darkness to light, the passage from death to life, the passage from slavery to freedom.
Therefore, one thing that Holy Saturday teaches us is that no matter how deep and how long the night is, the day will surely come. No matter how long the waiting may be, the fulfillment of God’s promise will surely come. Jesus had to go through the terrible experience of dying and being in the tomb for three days. But now he has risen! This day invites us to hope against all hope. There is no hopeless situation. And no situation is permanent. Our God is able to raise us up from the desperate situation we may find ourselves in. He is able to make a way where there is no way.
Let us pray therefore that the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ may dispel every darkness in our life. May the power of the resurrection roll up every stone that is a standing-block on your way to excellence and victory so that we may all give glory and honour to the Crucified and Risen Lord. Amen
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