Easter Vigil

Tonight's liturgy begins in a couple of hours: at dusk, the Easter fire is lit outside the church, the Easter candle, representing the light of Christ, is lit from this. No lights are on inside the church. Everyone, outside and inside (me!) the church has a small candle. The fire from the Easter candle is used to light our candles; we pass the flame from one to another until every candle is lit. The church is illumined by the light of Christ which we carry within ourselves and pass on to each other. This is one of the reasons I love being Catholic: our faith is rich in symbolism and ritual. Everything we do and say has meaning deeper than surface appearance and all relates to the wonder and glory of God, the God who came to earth for each one of us, now and forever.

It has been a quiet day of prayer, sorrow and anticipation. The tomb is silent, our Lord has been crucified and now lies dead. But we are blessed to know the next chapter; we find the empty tomb and relive our own death to sin in the waters of our baptism and know the promise of eternal life in the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have to get ready; I am anxious to hear alleluias sung again after six long weeks of silence.