From Darkness into Light

Lent and Easter provide a wonderfully rich time to draw closer to our spiritual lives through our worship. For me, the Great Vigil of Easter has become the highlight of this time. For those not familiar with the Vigil, it is a very ancient service that finds it roots in the very early Church when catechumens preparing for baptism on Easter and other Christians kept a ‘vigil’ during the night before Easter morning. These ancient services would last from sundown on Holy Saturday, or perhaps beginning on Good Friday, until sunrise on Easter morning, during which there were a series of scripture readings, prayers, and meditation. The climax of the service was the celebration of the first Eucharist of Easter at sunrise.
            This service did not appear in a Book of Common Prayer until the 1979 BCP, and is not nearly as long as those ancient services. Although, I would imagine one could stretch it a bit. Today the service takes place somewhere between sundown on Saturday and sunrise on Easter. It consists of a series of ten lessons and prayers. For those interested in more details on the service, it can be found in the BCP on page 285.
            The details of the liturgy, while important, are not the most significant part of this beautiful service of light and life for me. The beauty of the service lies in the ancient words of the Exsultet, an ancient hymn of praise and thanks, and in the salvation history that we hear in the readings and prayers.
            The Exsultet most especially sums up the importance of this Holy night that leads to the light of a new day as symbolized in the lighting of the Paschal candle. As we celebrate the Easter Feast this year, may we all come to know and stand in this light and let it drive the darkness from our lives.

How holy is this night,
when wickedness is put to flight,
and sin is washed away.
It restores innocence to the fallen,
and joy to those who mourn.
It casts out pride and hatred,
and brings peace and concord.
 
How blessed is this night,
when earth and heaven are joined
and man is reconciled to God.

Holy Father, accept our evening sacrifice,
the offering of this candle in your honor.
May it shine continually to drive away all darkness.
May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting,
find it ever burning - he who gives his light
to all creation, and who lives and reigns
for ever and ever. Amen.