The Easter Vigil – what a glorious night! This is the night when we heard the saving love of our Creator God through the Old Testament readings and the fulfillment of His promises to us in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, in the New Testament readings. This is the night where our Easter Alleluia’s rang out and we renewed our baptismal promises. This is the night where our Elect were reborn into new life in Christ through Baptism, where they, along with the rest of our Candidates, professed their faith in the Holy Trinity and in the teachings of Holy Mother Church and received the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation. This is the night where they all received Jesus into their hearts for the first time through Holy Communion. Truly, what a night!
A profound experience – almost too good to be true- yet it is the truest reality. Anyone who has ever been in love and is new to the overwhelming experience of it, needs time to reflect on what has happened to them. During the Easter Season, our newest members will enter into a period known as Mystagogy – a period of “savoring the mystery of God.” Over these next few weeks, they will reflect on the Easter Sacraments and “look backward” to a specific moment(s) when they experienced God’s mysterious presence. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, this time to“ look backward” will provide them with direction and renewed commitment for moving forward in their faith journey. Just like looking back at graduation, ordination or wedding pictures can give us more hope and joy for the future, reflecting on the experience of the “mysteries”- the sacraments- can renew our commitment to live as sons and daughters of God.