April 10, 2004 - Holy Saturday

THE EASTER VIGIL

Readings:
Ex 14:15-31; Is 55:1-11; Ez 36:16-28; Rom 6:3-11
Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Lk 24:1-12

(click here for complete readings)

Liberated and Living in the Covenant of Love

Structure of the Rite. The Easter Vigil rite harmoniously integrates everything in one continuous celebration that follows the normal structure of the eucharistic celebration.

The Liturgy of the Light is the opening rite of the Mass.

The Liturgy of the Word is an expanded version of the usual Liturgy of the Word, so that we can hear about God liberating his people both in the Old and in the New Testaments; here the Gloria comes after the readings from the Old Testament and before those of the New Covenant to mark our entering into the definitive covenant of joy and life.

After the gospel and the homily comes the Baptismal Liturgy, everywhere with the blessing of water and the renewal of baptismal vows, and in parishes the blessing of the baptismal font and, hopefully, an actual baptism. In the case of the baptism of an adult, if the celebrant has also helped in the preparation for baptism of the candidate, the law itself entitles him to confer also the rite of confirmation, without recourse to the bishop.

Finally comes the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and those participating in it are considered to have complied with the Office of Readings for Easter.

General Introduction by the Celebrant or a Commentator

Note: As there is an introduction by the Presiding Celebrant for each part of tonight's celebration, a suitable lay minister could give clearly and emphatically the following general introduction at the beginning of the service.

Liberated for the Covenant of Love

Tonight we celebrate the capital, central event for Christianity: the liberation of God's people from the slavery of sin, so that they can enter into the new and everlasting covenant whereby God, at his own initiative, binds his people to himself in a deep union of life and love. For God's people in the Old Testament God saw the hardships they suffered in their slavery in Egypt, liberated them and made with them the covenant through Moses on Mount Sinai. For us Christians, God saw our slavery to sin and our inability to get rid of it. So he sent Jesus, his own Son, to make us free by his death on the cross on Mount Golgotha and by his resurrection. Now we are a free people, capable of love and service and justice. We celebrate this freedom and covenant this very night.

PART I: SERVICE OF THE LIGHT

Introduction by the Celebrant

When there was sin, the world was in the grip of darkness. We celebrate tonight how Jesus came in that darkness to bring us the light of God's love by his death and resurrection. Now a new era could begin for the world and for all of us. This is why we light the fire, for Jesus came to light in us the fire of his love and hope. Let its flames leap up high in us and make us fervent. We kindle the light and profess that Jesus Christ is our light and the light of the world. We follow him and ask him to make us lights on the path of others. What a joy for us!

Then follow the blessing of the fire, the lighting of the Easter candle, the procession into the church and the Exsultet.

PART II. LITURGY OF THE WORD

Introduction by the Celebrant

We listen now to the Word of God with open ears and hearts and with great joy. God's Word tonight speaks of the liberation of the people of God, old and new, and therefore how the death and resurrection of Jesus too have liberated us. We are now free and alive!

Note. The seven Old Testament readings may be reduced to three. Exodus 14, on the Passover from Israel to the promised Land, should always be among those selected.

First Reading Introduction: Passing Through the Water to Freedom
      This is the story of the night of Israel's freedom: God led his people out from slavery to freedom through the saving waters and made a covenant with them. We will enter into freedom in Christ through the waters of baptism.

First Reading: Ex 14:15-31

The LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?
Tell the Israelites to go forward.
And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea,
split the sea in two,
that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land.
But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate
that they will go in after them.
Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army,
his chariots and charioteers.
The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD,
when I receive glory through Pharaoh
and his chariots and charioteers."

The angel of God, who had been leading Israel's camp,
now moved and went around behind them.
The column of cloud also, leaving the front,
took up its place behind them,
so that it came between the camp of the Egyptians
and that of Israel.
But the cloud now became dark, and thus the night passed
without the rival camps coming any closer together all night long.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
and the LORD swept the sea
with a strong east wind throughout the night
and so turned it into dry land.
When the water was thus divided,
the Israelites marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,
with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.

The Egyptians followed in pursuit;
all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and charioteers went after them
right into the midst of the sea.
In the night watch just before dawn
the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud
upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic;
and he so clogged their chariot wheels
that they could hardly drive.
With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel,
because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.

Then the LORD told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea,
that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians,
upon their chariots and their charioteers."
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth.
The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea,
when the LORD hurled them into its midst.
As the water flowed back,
it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh's whole army
which had followed the Israelites into the sea.
Not a single one of them escaped.
But the Israelites had marched on dry land
through the midst of the sea,
with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day
from the power of the Egyptians.
When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore
and beheld the great power that the LORD
had shown against the Egyptians,
they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

Second Reading Introduction: Invitation to Paradise Regained
      If we seek the Lord, he will restore us by his free gift of grace and make a new covenant with us. Then we can be his witnesses to all nations and bring them to God.

Second Reading: Is 55:1-11

The One who has become your husband is your Maker;
his name is the LORD of hosts;
your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
called God of all the earth.
The LORD calls you back,
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
a wife married in youth and then cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great tenderness I will take you back.
In an outburst of wrath, for a moment
I hid my face from you;
but with enduring love I take pity on you,
says the LORD, your redeemer.
This is for me like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah
should never again deluge the earth;
so I have sworn not to be angry with you,
or to rebuke you.
Though the mountains leave their place
and the hills be shaken,
my love shall never leave you
nor my covenant of peace be shaken,
says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
O afflicted one, storm-battered and unconsoled,
I lay your pavements in carnelians,
and your foundations in sapphires;
I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of carbuncles,
and all your walls of precious stones.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
and great shall be the peace of your children.
In justice shall you be established,
far from the fear of oppression,
where destruction cannot come near you.

Third Reading Introduction: A New People with a New Heart
      When during the exile the Jews repent of their infidelity, God promises to wash his people from their sins. They will become like a new people with a new heart living in a new covenant of love. We are the people of the new covenant who have been washed clean in baptism.

Third Reading: Ez 36:16-28

The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land,
they defiled it by their conduct and deeds.
Therefore I poured out my fury upon them
because of the blood that they poured out on the ground,
and because they defiled it with idols.
I scattered them among the nations,
dispersing them over foreign lands;
according to their conduct and deeds I judged them.
But when they came among the nations wherever they came,
they served to profane my holy name,
because it was said of them: "These are the people of the LORD,
yet they had to leave their land."
So I have relented because of my holy name
which the house of Israel profaned
among the nations where they came.

Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD:
Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel,
but for the sake of my holy name,
which you profaned among the nations to which you came.
I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations,
in whose midst you have profaned it.
Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,
when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
For I will take you away from among the nations,
gather you from all the foreign lands,
and bring you back to your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you
to cleanse you from all your impurities,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,
taking from your bodies your stony hearts
and giving you natural hearts.
I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes,
careful to observe my decrees.
You shall live in the land I gave your fathers;
you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Introduction before the Gloria and the Opening Prayer

The candles on the altar are now lit for we enter the New Testament, in which Christ is our light.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that we may follow wholeheartedly
Christ, our light and life
      (PAUSE)
Lord our God,
you have brightened this night
with the glorious light of Christ.
Make us rise with him to a new life
of faithful love in the new covenant
and renew us in mind and body
that we may be your loyal sons and daughters
and give you wholehearted service,
together with your risen Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Scripture Readings

First New Testament Reading Introduction: Risen With Christ
      We become part of the death and resurrection of Christ through baptism. There we have taken up the struggle against sin and have begun to live the life of Christ.

First New Testament Reading: Rom 6:3-11

Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,
we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.
We know that our old self was crucified with him,
so that our sinful body might be done away with,
that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.
For a dead person has been absolved from sin.
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;
as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin
and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Introduction: The Lord Is Alive and Risen
      The women disciples of Jesus find the tomb empty and do not know what to think. The angel announces to them that the Lord is alive and risen. The apostles have difficulty believing. Yet, with them, we have to be witnesses to the risen Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Reading: Lk 24:1-12

On the sabbath the women rested according to the commandment, but the first day of the week, at dawn, they went to the tomb with the perfumes and ointments they had prepared. Seeing the stone rolled away from the opening of the tomb, they entered and were puzzled to find that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.

Two men in dazzling garments appeared beside them. In fright the women bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why look for the living among the dead? (You won't find him here. He is risen.) Remember what he told you in Galilee, that the Son of Man had to be given into the hands of sinners, be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they recalled Jesus' words.
Returning from the tomb, they informed the Eleven and their companions. Among the women who brought the news were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. But however much they insisted, those who heard did not believe the seemingly nonsensical story. Then Peter got up and ran to the tomb. All he saw there on bending down were the linen cloths. He went home wondering.

Commentary

THE following is from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday. "I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O human being, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person…. Arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was an image, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; bow I make the cherubim worship you as they would God. The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting mansions are in readiness, the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages."

PART III. THE LITURGY OF BAPTISM

Note. If the baptismal font is to be blessed, whether there are actual baptisms or not, the Litany of the Saints is sung or prayed. If there is an actual baptism of an adult, the presiding celebrant may by law also confer on this person the sacrament of confirmation. If the font is not to be blessed, there is a blessing of holy water, followed by the renewal of baptismal vows.

Introduction by the Celebrant

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Brothers and sisters in Christ: On this beautiful night we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By dying he destroyed death for us, by rising he has affirmed our life. In baptism we have died with him to sin but we have not yet won all our struggles against evil and God's life in us has not yet come to full bloom. This is why the Church invites us again to reject what is against the covenant of love and to promise, as we did in baptism, to live according to its law of service and goodness. We renew therefore our baptismal promises. And so:
Do you reject...
Do you believe...

General Intercessions

Note: Where the Litany of the Saints has been used at baptism and/or the blessing of the font, it serves as General Intercessions. Otherwise:

Let us pray to God our Father, who has raised Jesus from the dead, and let us say: R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

- For those who have been baptized tonight and for all Christians, that they may remain faithful to their baptismal promises in all circumstances of life, let us pray: R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

- For all who suffer and for the dying that their hope and strength may be Jesus, who, through and beyond death, has built a road to new life, let us pray: R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

- For all those whose experiences have discouraged or disillusioned them in life, that they may not remain obsessed by the past but look forward to the future with its new prospects and opportunities, let us pray: R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

- For all those who have committed themselves to serve the needs of others, that they may keep faith in a better world in which peace and justice are not empty words, let us pray: R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

- For all of us gathered here in the joy of Easter, that we may be happy and jovial people who know that God loves us with an enduring love and that we may radiate this love to one another, let us pray: R/ Lord, raise us up with your Son.

Our God and Father, you call us your sons and daughters and that is what we really are. Make us gratefully cooperate with you in the works of your creating and serving love, so as to look forward in hope to the happiness without end promised us in Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

IV. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Introduction by the Celebrant

To conclude our feast of life and joy, we sit at table with the Lord Jesus and let him nourish us with himself as the food of life and the wine of joy on our journey to our promised land. It is our meal of the new and everlasting covenant with Jesus. If we entrust ourselves to him, we cannot fail in our new life.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, God of life,
you gather us around this table
to celebrate the Easter meal
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept with this bread and this wine
the prayers and offerings of your people.
Make our faith firm,
that your Son may continue
to live in us and to lead us to you,
our living and loving God for ever. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let our joy brim over in this eucharist as we give thanks to the Father for having saved us by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Invitation to the Our Father

Sons and daughters of the Father through baptism,
let the joy of the Spirit cry out in us
in Jesus' own words: R/ Our Father...

Invitation to Communion

This is our risen Lord, who said
and says again to us this night:
"I am the bread of life.
Those who eat my flesh and drink by blood
have eternal life and I live in them."
With this faith, come to the table of the Lord:
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, our Father,
with joy we have shared
in the Easter meal of your Son.
Through his body and blood you have assured us
that we are destined for eternal life
and that this life is already astir in us.
Keep filling us with the Spirit of your love,
that we may live in the joy of your one people,
one in heart and mind,
and living for one another and for you,
our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.

Blessing

What an experience of joy
if we have really relived tonight
what we have become through Jesus' resurrection.
May we keep living in the hope and happiness
of a people that is risen above sin and evil
and live for all that is good and beautiful.
May the almighty and loving God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, alleluia, alleluia.
R/ Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

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