Easter Fire and Water

[Reprinted from bulletin]

The Easter Vigil ceremonies on Holy Saturday night highlight two basic elements of nature, fire and water. The “flame” struck from flint—ignites the Paschal Candle, reminding us of Jesus, Resurrected in glory. He is the Light for all of us and all the world. Let us invite His Light to those dark spaces in us and around us that need healing, hope and encouragement.

Participants at the Vigil will hold a lighted candle, its light taken from the Paschal Candle, while the Celebrant sings Of this night Scripture says, “The night will be as clear as day, it will become my light, my joy...May Christ, the Morning Star, who came back from the dead, shed his peaceful light in all humankind.

There is a cosmic story of water—the story that everything in the Universe begins with hydrogen. We can call water “holy” for the sacred scriptures overflow with stories of water.

In our Parish Lenten Series 4.5, we have been made more aware of the growing need for clean drinking water and our responsibility in both using and sharing this gift of God. We are called to be good stewards of this awesome and precious necessity.

Water is an essential and necessary gift of our Creator. Each and every person grows and comes to life in the water of your mother’s womb. Human life is not possible without water.

In our faith life, water takes on a deeper spiritual meaning and purpose. Water becomes a rich symbol of grace that gives us new life in Christ. We are born again in Baptism of water and the Holy Spirit—Jesus speaks of living water becoming a fountain within the heart and soul welling up into eternal life. He desires to give us this wondrous gift. Water flowed from the side of Christ as he hung upon the cross. His death destroys death itself and brings new and abundant life. His self-giving is grace in abundance for us.

During the Vigil ceremony, the Celebrant dips his hand into the water and prays “Father, in union with your Son, send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are buried with Christ in the death of Baptism, rise also with him to newness of life.” We may refer to this water as Easter Holy Water.

At the Easter Vigil, we welcome new members of the Church. In the waters of Baptism women and men find new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. It has been our Catholic custom to renew our Baptismal vows at Easter liturgies and then be sprinkled with this Holy Spirit.

Here at St. Paul Parish the usual blessed water available for the Sign of the Cross, will not be available during this last week of Lent. We look forward and anticipate this rich ritual of blessing the “Easter Water”. On Easter Day we will approach one large “fountain” container in the narthex to bless ourselves in faith and sincere gratitude for God’s redeeming love.

This truly is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.