April 3, 2010 - Easter Vigil, Year C (RCL)
Tonight
we step back in history.
Back to the fourth century
when the Easter Vigil as we know it
was the great celebration
of the church year.
The church was dark. The only light
came from candles and oil lamps,
reflected in the eyes
of the people
come to be baptized,
sometimes just a few,
sometimes numbering in their hundreds or even thousands.
Wearing not Easter dresses
but white tunics,
they had been preparing for this day
for forty long days,
fasting the last
day and a half.
It would be the first time
they were allowed to be in church for the whole service,
the first time
they could hear the sermon and prayers,
the first time
they would join the whole church in reciting the core of their faith in the Apostle’s Creed,
the first time
they would receive the holy bread and wine.
Today we have joined them.
Today, with them,
we have lit the holy new fire,
and sung the Exsulset, that marvelous hymn of praise
when we join with all of heaven and earth in praise of God.
We have heard the stories at the very foundation of our faith,
the stories of God’s saving work
among the people of God
throughout all ages.
And those stories
so often
focus on water.
The water
of creation,
when the spirit hovered
over the face of the deep,
and the waters were divided, and gathered,
and swam
with life.
Creation arose
from the waters.
And then the story
of Noah,
and that terrible flood,
that for over a year
covered the face of the earth.
And yet, after all that destruction,
the sun and the water
brought the sign of new life,
a bird returning
with an olive leaf
in her mouth.
And an earth cleansed, renewed,
ready for new and faithful life.
And then the story of the escape from Egypt,
the fear of the people as they face a sea
that could only
bring death,
but instead
it was divided
and the passed in safety
from slavery
into the wilderness,
just as they were to pass
from the wilderness
into the freedom
of the promised land.
And it is water
in which Violette and Sarah
will be baptized,
the water of cleansing
and freedom
and resurrection new life.
And they will become part of that people
gathered by God,
stretched across the ages,
generation upon generation, century upon century,
given a new heart and a new spirit within them,
and God will be their God.
And God
will rejoice,
just as God rejoiced
over those people
who stood in that church,
sixteen centuries ago,
as they too became members
of the people
of God.
And today we join them
and God
in celebration,
in celebration
of the resurrection
of our Savior Jesus Christ,
a celebration
that is perhaps best expressed
in the words of the great fourth century
Archbishop of Constantinople, John Chrysostom,
John the golden-mouthed,
who spoke these words
one Easter
sixteen centuries
ago.
Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary from fasting?
Let them now receive their due!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their reward.
If any have come after the third hour,
let them with gratitude join in the feast!
Those who arrived after the sixth hour,
let them not doubt; for they shall not be short-changed.
Those who have tarried until the ninth hour,
let them not hesitate; but let them come too.
And those who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let them not be afraid by reason of their delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
The Lord gives rest to those who come at the eleventh hour,
even as to those who toiled from the beginning.
To one and all the Lord gives generously.
The Lord accepts the offering of every work.
The Lord honours every deed and commends their intention.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike, receive your reward.
Rich and poor, rejoice together!
Conscientious and lazy, celebrate the day!
You who have kept the fast, and you who have not,
rejoice, this day, for the table is bountifully spread!
Feast royally, for the calf is fatted.
Let no one go away hungry.
Partake, all, of the banquet of faith.
Enjoy the bounty of the Lord's goodness!
Let no one grieve being poor,
for the universal reign has been revealed.
Let no one lament persistent failings,
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death,
for the death of our Saviour has set us free.
The Lord has destroyed death by enduring it.
The Lord vanquished hell when he descended into it.
The Lord put hell in turmoil even as it tasted of his flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, were placed in turmoil when he encountering you below."
Hell was in turmoil having been eclipsed.
Hell was in turmoil having been mocked.
Hell was in turmoil having been destroyed.
Hell was in turmoil having been abolished.
Hell was in turmoil having been made captive.
Hell grasped a corpse, and met God.
Hell seized earth, and encountered heaven.
Hell took what it saw, and was overcome by what it could not see.
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is set free!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead.
For Christ, having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Christ be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!
© Raewynne J. Whiteley 2010