Sunday Special: Happy Easter

Easter Vigil is one of the longest masses at the Catholic Church. Originally lasting all night, literally a vigil for Easter Sunday, it now ranges between three and seven readings from the Old Testament, an epistle, Gospel, baptisms, confirmations, and first communions of those joining the church. Starting outside in the dark, and ending some two and half hours later, it is no small undertaking. And it's hard to focus on.

"Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus"
Rom. 6:3-11

I have attended many Easter Vigil masses with my family, but there was something special about this one. And that quote from Romans really stayed with me, and I kept reading it over and over, trying to commit it to memory. And throughout the rest of the mass, as people receivered various sacraments of initiation, I felt those words close to my heart.

In baptism, we die and are born again, in our Lord's light and love, washed clean of original sin. When confirmed, we are blessed with the grace to consciously turn towards Christ each and every day. And the living bread and wine of Holy Communion sustains us like no mortal food or drink ever could, helping us through our day-to-day struggles, so that we can live in and for the Lord.

It's hard to see the joy in every day events or in sacraments we were raised into. The church I have been a part of my whole life can seem stuffy and boring at times. As I mentioned earlier this month, my prayer life seems to lack joy during its day-to-day routines. But there is joy and beauty in the simple things. We must be dead to sin and alive in Christ; we must push past the dangerous monotony that temptsus to sleep in instead of wake up and pray

The Easter season is for joy and celebration in the church, a sort of new year, an opportunity for a fresh start, resolutions, and to find joy in this littugical season, and the ordinary times to follow.

Tota tua.

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