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_{Easter Vigil
April 11, 2009} 

        The ceremony of this Ester Vigil is like a Wal-Mart Supercenter.  As the longest and largest of all our liturgical celebrations of the year, tonight's multifaceted festival has everything that we need to proclaim loudly and clearly, "Christ is risen!  Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

        With a variety of blessings (from the Easter candle to water), a variety of readings (from the Easter Proclamation to the readings from the Old and New Testaments), and a variety of actions (from the renewal of our baptism promises to the reception of Holy Communion), it should not surprise us to wonder, "Where are we, and what's next?"  We may feel overwhelmed and lost in the maze of messages.

        To regain and retain our attention and devotion for this almost overwhelming celebration, we need a single focus, a clear point of reference to which we can return to get our bearings.  I would like to suggest that our focus for tonight’s celebration is...the Easter candle.

        We began this liturgy by blessing the Easter candle.  The candle was marked with a cross, the current year 2009, and five points that symbolize the five wounds in the hands, feet, and side of the crucified Jesus.  The candle was lit, and we prayed, "May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds."  Then the lighted candle led us through the darkened church and into the sanctuary as we chanted three times, "Christ our light. Thanks be to God."

        During the fifty days of the Easter season the Easter candle will stand tall and straight in our midst and be lighted at every Mass, at every celebration of the Eucharist that always renews the presence of our risen and living Jesus of Easter.      

        The Easter candle is our reminder of what we have done this night.  The Easter candle also reminds us of the candle we received at our baptism.  At that time this prayer was addressed to the parents and godparents of the child:  "This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ.  He/She is to walk always as a child of the light.  May he/she keep the flame of faith alive in his/her heart.  When the Lord comes, may he/she go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom."

        During this Easter season we pay loving attention to the Easter candle.  We greet it, we salute it, we acknowledge its presence and its meaning every time we come to Mass.  The Easter candle is our sanctified souvenir of this blessed Easter Vigil and of the blessed Easter Day that will soon dawn upon us.

        The Easter candle is our guarantee that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead and is still with us to forgive us, nourish us, support us, defend us, love us, and lead us to the glory of our eternal Easter of life everlasting.