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This evening's service draws on the symbolism of light versus darkness. The Liturgy identifies darkness with sin, ignorance, and insecurity. For people who walk in darkness, Christ shines as a bright light. The Easter Candle symbolizes "Christ our light." Tonight we are invited to revive in ourselves the grace of our baptism. New candidates will be baptized. All will renew their baptismal commitment.
Through baptism, we participate in the Lord's resurrection and are" children of the light." "Christ is the true lamb who took away the sins of the world. By dying he destroyed our death, by rising he restored our life." "Lord God, you have brightened this night with the radiance of the risen Christ... Renew us in mind and body."
People who are getting up in age are advised to have their eyes checked for glaucoma every so often. You may be on your way to partial blindness without being aware! A similar thing can happen to our Faith. It too is a vision, and it can be blurred easily by the neon lights of commercials and popular shows on the screen. Focusing on the real Light, which is the risen Lord, may be beneficial. And that is what Christians are doing all over the world tonight. "May Christ, that morning Star shed his peaceful light on all mankind.
A Reading from the Book of Genesis
Gn 1:1-2:2
Conditioned by his primitive knowledge of the universe, the author describes creation as he sees it, dividing all he sees in six portions calling them days. We are dealing with a didactic poem. Each stanza even has a refrain: "Evening came... " The lesson: Work six days and keep one day free for rest and worship of your Maker, whom you should meet in all of creation. "How manifold are your works, O Lord!"
The Responsorial Psalm is that that we put our trust in Jesus because of his love and kindness and that he has done great things for us, so we should be filled with joy and love for him and to be like him.
in your self-giving. He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord hears the cry of the poor!
A Reading, From the Book of Genesis
Gn 22:1-18
God rewarded the heroic Faith and obedience of Abraham with the promise that in his descendants all the nations of the earth should find blessing. We are blessed in Abraham's offspring, Christ Jesus ---his life, death, and resurrection, which we celebrate tonight. May we respond to God's call by joyfully accepting his invitation to that new life of grace that we received when we were baptized.
A Reading from the Book of Exodus
Ex 14:15-15:1
Save for the legendary details, this well-known story tells us about God's wonderous intervention, saving Israel from bondage in Egypt. The Exodus tale, with God's care for those enslaved, has somehow been referred to by numerous liberation movements ever since. "Tell Ole Pharaoh, O let my people go!" It was the song of the black slaves on the Southern plantations. And the "Exodus" is one of the cherished paradigms of Liberation Theology, giving hope to the impoverished masses in Latin America.
We Christians relate our freedom from sin' bondage through the water of baptism to Israel's Exodus through the waters of the Red Sea. The tone of both story and Responsorial Psalm is martial and triumphant. But isn't life a constant struggle? Our freedom through baptism is just initial. Only with determination and God's help shall we overcome. That's what we celebrate tonight.
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 54:5-14
Meditating on our baptism, through which we are associated with God in a relationship of love, called a covenant, we face the sad possibility of infidelity. God is our husband, and we are his potentially unfaithful wife. What many husbands will not even think of God is willing to do. He will take you back, will not even be angry anymore, if you repent. Easter is the time of restoring our baptismal relationship with God. "Hear, O Lord, and have pity on me!"
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Is 55:1-11
Baptism does not give rebirth only: it gives also strength to keep moving. Water is essential for the traveler in the desert. Like the scoundrel and the wicked man in Isaiah, we may stumble in the desert of life. God's invitation is: "All you who are thirsty, come to the water," which is my word coming down like rain. It will keep you going if you expose yourself to it in daily Bible reading! "Almighty, ever-living God... by the preaching of the prophets you proclaimed the mysteries we are celebrating tonight." Do you know the Prophets?
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Baruch
Bar 3:9-15, 32---4:4
All relationships are in for deterioration if not kept alive carefully. The German poet Schiller wrote: "O that the beautiful time of young and tender love would keep blooming forever!" Too often, it does not.
In the same way we may grow old in our baptismal relationship with God our Maker, Husband, Wife, Lover. In case of divorce one partner may blame the other. Not so when your love of God is getting stale. Have you "forsaken the fountain of wisdom"? "Turn... and receive her!" The stars at their posts shine and rejoice. When God calls them, they answer: Here we are! Are they more faithful than we? Tonight you will renew your baptismal vows. Make it a real renewal of your dedication in love!
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekial
Ez. 36:16-17a,18-28
Whether going astray before or after baptism, you defile yourself as the Jews in Ezekial did. God will pour out his fury upon you. If you repent, though, "God will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all of your impurities." Tonight, after you have renewed your baptismal promises, the priest will sprinkle you with blessed water, reminding you of your baptism. Remember that symbols have only as much meaning as you give them! God, "give me back the joy of your salvation!"
A Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
Rom 6:3-11
The baptismal ceremony Paul mentions is the baptism of immersion that was generally practiced in the early church. The old self, with its egotism and sin, was buried in the baptismal water and a new person, a Christian, arose from it.
However, we should not forget that this "dying with Christ and rising up to a new life" is an ongoing process until it is fully realized in the life to come. For that reason we will renew our baptismal commitment tonight. Its meaning is a renewed dying to our sinful self and a new and more Christian life with the risen God. "In Christ," a Christian can say, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."
In the Gospel of Matthew
Mt 28:1-10
The "angel of the Lord" in Matthew's version of the announcement of Christ's resurrection, the "young man" in Mark's version and the "two men" in Luke's version are messenger-figures of the Old Testament. The authors want to bring out the message from God: "He [Christ] has been raised from the dead."
The legendary details belong to the tradition as such. The evangelists took this tradition at face value and used it to proclaim the risen Lord and what he means to you and me: "Do not be afraid."
Newsy Notes
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Deacon Bob Brazier, CRE
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REMEMBER
HOLY THURSDAY
MASS
7:30 PM
GOOD FRIDAY
Passion of the Lord
1:00PM
7:00PM
EASTER
VIGIL
9:00PM
"CONFIRMATION"
"Remember"
Confirmation
Our next 7th Grade Confirmation Class will be held in the Faith Formation Room at 11:15 on Sunday April 23rd. We will be going over what we will be doing for our summer projects and working on our Decision Point Chapters.
1st Communion
Our 1st Communion Rehearsal will be held on Friday April 28th at 6:00pm and our Celebration on April 30th at 10:00am Mass
Address future PSR and Sacramental Preparation Questions to:
Deacon Bob Brazier at bbrazier@sttm.org
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