COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO MAKE THIS MOST SACRED NIGHT RADIANT WITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION, STIR UP IN YOUR CHURCH A SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, SO THAT, RENEWED IN BODY AND MIND, WE MAY RENDER YOU UNDIVIDED SERVICE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
(1st) Gen 1:1-2:2 or 1:1,26-31/Ps 103:1-2,5=6,10,12-14,24,35 or Ps 32:4-7,12-13,20-22/ Gen 22:1-18 or 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18/Ps 15:5,8-11 (2nd) Ex 14:15-15:1/Ps Ex 15:1-6,17-18 or Is 54:5-14/Ps 29:2,4-6,11-13 (3rd) Is 55:1-11/Ps Is 12:2-6 or Bar 3:9-15,32-4:4/Ps 18:8-11 or Ez 36:16-17a,18-28/Ps 41:3,5;42:3-4 or Ps 50:12-15,18-19. GLORIA. (4th) Rom 6:3-11, ALLELUIA/Ps 117:1-2,16-17,22-23 and Mt 28:1-10.
“HE IS ALIVE AND HE GOES BEFORE US ON OUR FAITH JOURNEY. ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID".
i) Why the Vigil? Since the Passion, Death and Burial of Jesus on Good Friday, the day of his crucifixion, Jesus’ faithful, the Church for that matter, so to speak, wait at his tomb, praying and meditating on his suffering and death, anticipating the resurrection in three days. There is no joyful celebration. Only after the solemn vigil during the night will they have joyful celebrations.
ii) This joyful vigil celebration though symbolic, is significant. It is a vigil for the Lord, the light that dispels darkness. It reminds the faithful always to have their lamps burning and ready. They should be like men and women awaiting their master’s return so that when he arrives, he will find them wide awake and will seat them at his table (Cf. Mt 24:38-51).
iii) The celebration in the night vigil is arranged in four (4) parts:
a. A brief service of light (LIGHT SERVICE). This includes the blessing of a bonfire and a Paschal Candle outside the Church, followed by a procession with the Paschal Candle into the Church where the Easter Proclamation (Exultet) is sung. Notably, this part symbolises Jesus, the Light of the world, who dispels darkness. Christ is also presented as “Yesterday” and “Today”, he is the “Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega”. “All time belongs to him and all the ages”. “To him be glory and power through every age forever. Amen.”
b. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD. This part narrates the salvation history to us. The readings or scriptures, carefully selected, give us the chance to meditate on all the wonderful things God has done for his people from the beginning of creation till now. God is presented as the Creator (Genesis 1), he is the Redeemer, the Deliverer and Saviour (Exodus 14), he sustains and he is the Provider (Isaiah 55) and Jesus Christ is presented as the Lord of Life and Resurrection (Romans 6 and Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24).
c. THE BAPTISMAL LITURGY. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, new members of the Church are reborn as the day of resurrection approaches. The rest of the faithful also renew their baptismal promises, endorsing and confirming once more their allegiance to God and renouncing, as well as denouncing Satan and evil.
d. THE EUCHARISTIC LITURGY. This is the time the whole Church is called to the Table of which the Lord has prepared for his people through his death and resurrection. This, in actual fact, is the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist: The Sacrament that gives our souls spiritual nourishment, strengthens and invigorates our souls to withstand Satan and temptations in the world. Through this Sacrament, we are being consumed by Jesus Christ so that we can live and act as “other Christs” in the world.
As we celebrate our redemption, our salvation, which did not only take place over two thousand and twenty-six years ago, but which continues to take place every year and every moment in our lives, let us give a deep reflection and meditation upon all that God has done and continues to do for us, and once more reaffirm our allegiance, commitment and dedication to Him so that after our earthly bound faith journey, He may receive us into His heavenly home and grant us eternal life. Happy Easter, and may the presence of the Lord of Life and Resurrection fill your heart with abundant blessings and love. Shalom.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “POUR OUT ON US, O LORD, THE SPIRIT OF YOUR LOVE, AND IN YOUR KINDNESS MAKE THOSE YOU HAVE NOURISHED BY THIS PASCHAL SACRAMENT ONE IN MIND AND HEART. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!