Devotionals

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"Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

Legends live on much after they have passed away. The world can never forget their contribution and the mark that they leave. Their examples are an inspiration to be followed for generations to come. Their name remains forever fixed in the hearts of mankind.
The greatest legend that lives on in this world more than thousand years after He walked this earth is Jesus Christ. On this night we celebrate His greatest accomplishment that the world could ever have, a feat which united earth to heaven for all times.

The beautiful love of the father is expressed in sending His only son into the world; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him”. John 3:16-17

For the past forty days, we have been faithfully holding a vigil for our Lord by means of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Tonight the veil will be lifted, the stone will be rolled back amidst the thundering and earth shaking moments. The Savior will emerge from the tomb, His right hand raised in the victory sign.
Death has been conquered forever, there will be no more mourning or weeping.
As we joyfully, rejoice in Psalm 118 14:17; ‘His steadfast love endures for ever. The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; the right hand of the Lord is exalted; I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of the Lord.”

One of the most heart catching moments of the Easter vigil mass which I have always carried in my heart is when the Easter candle is lit in total darkness and the priest recites how heaven is wedded to earth tonight, a moment of unison.
We light our own candles and renew our baptismal vows as the holy water is sprinkled upon us. We are washed anew, heirs to the throne of the King. The most exhilarating moment is when the bells ring loudly after the Resurrection scene is enacted and Easter is proclaimed. The Gloria is sung after forty days and the sweet sound resounding in the church lifts our hearts straight to the portals of heaven.
We are the chosen people who celebrate the Lord’s resurrection in this age and time. We loyally carry the torch to be passed on to the generations to come who will further tell this Easter story to be recounted until the end of time.

Tonight the readings have been specifically selected right from the beginning of creation in Genesis, the Passover in Exodus up to the New Testament. It is very important to pay attention to the whole course of events as explained in the lectionary. An active participation is expected from us as Easter should be fully alive in our hearts which is achieved by listening to the word of God and re-living the events which took place at the first Easter celebration.
Feeling humbled to be chosen to read the Word of God tonight, as the parish priest pointed out that all lectors bear full responsibility of being a part of the Eucharistic celebration as we honor and proclaim the word of God to His people.

Easter brings with it the message of peace, love, hope and joy. It brings in the light and removes all the darkness. We have won the race in Christ Jesus. As beautifully stated in John 16: 33; “In Me you have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." We also recall the promising pledge by Isaiah 26:19; “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.”

May the wonderful events that unfold this Easter night fill our hearts with an everlasting sense of having gained the heavenly crown which the Risen Lord has lovingly placed on each of us.

A Happy and Blessed Easter!


Maria Franco

 

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