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| Easter Vigil 15 April, 2006 The Rev. Robert C. Granfeldt |
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Christ is Risen!
The Lord is Risen, Indeed!
Christos Anesthe!
Alethos Anesthe!
Lord, I DO love this service! You know, I have said so often that this is my favorite
service of the whole year! But I must confess, I’m rethinking that, especially after this
past week! This service really is only a part of a whole: the culmination and the high
point, certainly, but still just part of the greater whole that is Holy Week – and it’s the
totality that’s really so great! Palm Sunday…, Maundy Thursday…, Good Friday. All
such powerful, meaningful services! Difficult, at times, even painful; but, altogether,
so moving, so wonderful. And now Easter! And in this service we recapitulate all the
rest!
We began by striking a new fire!, lighting the candle of the Passover, for the light that
had gone out of the world in that whole, awful process, beginning after the Last
Supper on Maundy Thursday and culminating on the cross on Good Friday, is now
about to come, anew, to reenter the world, rekindled and reborn. And placing the
Paschal Candle in its stand, we heard the Exsultet – a song of praise that reached its
present form in the Seventh Century, and has remained unchanged for 13 hundred
years, sung or read at THIS service every year through all the centuries – offered in
thanksgiving for the gift of the Light of the World!
We recalled God’s saving activity through history --- in the proclamation of the
creation, itself; in the story of His deliverance of the people out of Egypt in the
Exodus, that defining moment in all history!; in the Prophet Isaiah’s proclamation of
salvation offered freely to all people; and in his promise to gather and restore his
people, given by Zephaniah.
And finally, we welcomed the culmination of God’s saving work, when, having given
up his own Son to death on the cross for our sins, God overcame death, itself, in the
Resurrection to new life, and we cried out, “Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen,
indeed! Alleluia!”
And now we move on to the next step.
Now we going to bring two babies before the Altar of God, and to the Fountain of
Baptism, to be baptized into Christ Jesus – into the risen Christ and into his Body!
Because, you see, that’s what all this has been about; it was for these babies that all
of these other things took place through all those millennia! It was for them that our
God created the world; it was for them that God called Moses to lead the children of
Israel out of their bondage in Egypt; it was for these babies that the prophets came,
proclaiming peace and justice and the rule of God over God’s people.
It was for them that the Living Word became incarnate, that our Lord, Christ, was born
into the world; it was for these babies that he came out of the desert after his
baptism, teaching and preaching and healing; it was for these babies that he was
given up to the authorities, to the powers of this world – for them that he suffered
and died!
And it was for THESE BABIES that God raised up Jesus Christ from the dead,
overcoming sin and death.
It was all for these babies, tonight. Just as it was, on other days and other nights, for
that child, and that child, and that child, and that child, and this child! It was for them
and for each one of us – each of us a small part of Christ’s risen Body; each of us a
small part of his victory over death!
You know – because I’ve told you – that there was a time in the history of the Church
when virtually ALL BAPTISMS were performed on this night – because baptism IS what
the night is all about. Baptism into Christ’s death and baptism into his resurrection.
Inclusion in the Body of Christ is what the night is all about; adoption as sons and
daughters of God, and becoming heirs of salvation.
So, now we’re going to do that! We’re going to baptize Mia Kathryn and Savannah
Nichole into Christ’s life – into his death and into his resurrection! We’re going to
baptize them into the Body of Christ – making them part of Jesus Christ, and part of
US, as well! We’re going to see to their adoption as a son and a daughter of God –
heirs of the salvation won for them, and for us on that first Easter night, so long ago!
So let’s get on with it! Let’s make a couple of new Christians, for the Love of God! And
let’s celebrate the New Life in Christ Jesus, the Risen life!
And let’s do it in His Name! Amen.
The Lord is Risen, Indeed!
Christos Anesthe!
Alethos Anesthe!
Lord, I DO love this service! You know, I have said so often that this is my favorite
service of the whole year! But I must confess, I’m rethinking that, especially after this
past week! This service really is only a part of a whole: the culmination and the high
point, certainly, but still just part of the greater whole that is Holy Week – and it’s the
totality that’s really so great! Palm Sunday…, Maundy Thursday…, Good Friday. All
such powerful, meaningful services! Difficult, at times, even painful; but, altogether,
so moving, so wonderful. And now Easter! And in this service we recapitulate all the
rest!
We began by striking a new fire!, lighting the candle of the Passover, for the light that
had gone out of the world in that whole, awful process, beginning after the Last
Supper on Maundy Thursday and culminating on the cross on Good Friday, is now
about to come, anew, to reenter the world, rekindled and reborn. And placing the
Paschal Candle in its stand, we heard the Exsultet – a song of praise that reached its
present form in the Seventh Century, and has remained unchanged for 13 hundred
years, sung or read at THIS service every year through all the centuries – offered in
thanksgiving for the gift of the Light of the World!
We recalled God’s saving activity through history --- in the proclamation of the
creation, itself; in the story of His deliverance of the people out of Egypt in the
Exodus, that defining moment in all history!; in the Prophet Isaiah’s proclamation of
salvation offered freely to all people; and in his promise to gather and restore his
people, given by Zephaniah.
And finally, we welcomed the culmination of God’s saving work, when, having given
up his own Son to death on the cross for our sins, God overcame death, itself, in the
Resurrection to new life, and we cried out, “Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen,
indeed! Alleluia!”
And now we move on to the next step.
Now we going to bring two babies before the Altar of God, and to the Fountain of
Baptism, to be baptized into Christ Jesus – into the risen Christ and into his Body!
Because, you see, that’s what all this has been about; it was for these babies that all
of these other things took place through all those millennia! It was for them that our
God created the world; it was for them that God called Moses to lead the children of
Israel out of their bondage in Egypt; it was for these babies that the prophets came,
proclaiming peace and justice and the rule of God over God’s people.
It was for them that the Living Word became incarnate, that our Lord, Christ, was born
into the world; it was for these babies that he came out of the desert after his
baptism, teaching and preaching and healing; it was for these babies that he was
given up to the authorities, to the powers of this world – for them that he suffered
and died!
And it was for THESE BABIES that God raised up Jesus Christ from the dead,
overcoming sin and death.
It was all for these babies, tonight. Just as it was, on other days and other nights, for
that child, and that child, and that child, and that child, and this child! It was for them
and for each one of us – each of us a small part of Christ’s risen Body; each of us a
small part of his victory over death!
You know – because I’ve told you – that there was a time in the history of the Church
when virtually ALL BAPTISMS were performed on this night – because baptism IS what
the night is all about. Baptism into Christ’s death and baptism into his resurrection.
Inclusion in the Body of Christ is what the night is all about; adoption as sons and
daughters of God, and becoming heirs of salvation.
So, now we’re going to do that! We’re going to baptize Mia Kathryn and Savannah
Nichole into Christ’s life – into his death and into his resurrection! We’re going to
baptize them into the Body of Christ – making them part of Jesus Christ, and part of
US, as well! We’re going to see to their adoption as a son and a daughter of God –
heirs of the salvation won for them, and for us on that first Easter night, so long ago!
So let’s get on with it! Let’s make a couple of new Christians, for the Love of God! And
let’s celebrate the New Life in Christ Jesus, the Risen life!
And let’s do it in His Name! Amen.
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| Calvary Episcopal Church, Rockdale |
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