Waiting for the Light

There are many readings for the Easter Vigil a selection is here. A particular reading for this year is Matthew 28:1-10

The great Vigil of Easter happens in the dark before Easter day breaks.
So it may be the night before, or increasingly it is held at dawn on Easter Day. So much of the language which speaks about the light breaking through the darkness is reinforced (hopefully) by the rising Sun.
It is almost pagan in some its dimensions, but like many Christian things, it takes the natural phenomena and Christianises them.
So we consecrate the dawn by linking this wonderful daily gift (I never fail to be wowed by a good sunrise) to the rising Christ.
Each day as we experience the rising Sun
so our hearts and minds are drawn
to the rising Son.

Like most Vigil services
the focus is on the Bible
so take time to read the readings.
There are perhaps ten or more
climaxing with one of the accounts of the resurrection.

The readings start at the very beginning
(that's a very good place to start)
so we hear the account of God's Creation of the world, and God's new covenant after Noah's flood.
We then move on to the sacrifice of Isaac and the great story of the delivery of the people from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea.
There are no end of prophetic insights we could share in this salvation story but we hear how God will take his people back
and make them new.
There is much to be said.

Amidst all this the Easter candle shines
with its curious markings
Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end of the Greek Alphabet)
The sign of the Cross that connects us irrevocably to God
and the numbers of the year.
We say "Christ the beginning and the end, the same this day as he was in the past and will be in the future."

What we are being drawn into here is God's eternal story. The God who always was and is, draws me and you into this new life.
It is what God has always wanted to do, and has done,
and will do.
So we renew our commitment made at Baptism
that says "Yes"
This is what I choose to do.
I turn to Christ.