For St Augustine tonight’s vigil celebration, always celebrated when darkness has fallen, is ‘the mother of all vigils”. We celebrate the foundation of our faith and hope in Jesus Christ – His victory over death. This year our parish celebrations and participation will obviously be limited.
However, the elements we use in the church celebration to convey the profound meaning of this feast are still around us. Light and darkness, fire and water, words (scripture) and music can lead us to the deeper meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. We can reflect on these visible things around us and pray that soon we will be able to celebrate baptism and the eucharist. These are the sacraments which make us sharers and participants of this marvellous night’s celebration.
May all our dear relatives and friends who have died during the past year share in the new life which Jesus, risen from the dead, promises to us all. “Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?” St Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians, 15:55.
