EASTER VIGIL: Homily - - -

“FROM PASSOVER TO INDWELLING PRESENCE”

Saint Luke 23.54 - - 24.10

HOLY SATURDAY VIGIL: 30 March Anno Domini 2013

Father Jay Watson SSP

In The Name + of Jesus

   There’s a crackling in the air. The horizon will be turning pinkish aquamarine shortly.  You can begin to smell a hint of spiced fragrance and faintly hear a trilling that might be choral singing…but more beautiful and unworldly than your memory would suggest—the most accomplished songbirds merged with some kind of distant cosmic winds?

   But you are not huddled together in some secret upper room with the doors locked for fear. The Paraclete has unlocked your defensive barricades to loving and sharing with your neighbor.  Continue to allow the Spirit to open your fortress of self to forgive your enemies and adversaries.  On this Vigil, you can indeed forgive even the Pharisees, High Priests and Scribes—even that unholy triad within your own heart. 

   You huddle together but not with the frightened eleven for, (as the Holy Ghost spake by the prophets) one has gone and hanged himself, rather you bustle and scurry with excitement with the Myrrh-bearers—the holy women accompanying Saint Mary Magdalene.

    You have brought your little lights to follow His great Paschal Light into the empty tomb. You have exited into the breathing, healing, expanding universe of The Garden restored and recapitulated.

    You are not barricaded inside a locked house with Blood splattered on the doorposts and lintel—REAL wet, sticky, warm blood from a dead lamb.  But you are gathering around the Words of He Who has opened your prison house to free you and restore you.  The Passover has occurred.  The angel of death has seized its victim. Christ has died. The angel of death—God’s wrath against not the first-born of Egypt, but THE FIRST BORN ADAM and all his scion—fallen mankind—has been satisfied in the death of THE FIRST AND ONLY BEGOTTEN, and eternally existing Son.  You are about to again be indwelled, not with the angel of death but The Angel of Life.  This Paschal Lamb is alive and will cover you with His REAL and TRUE Blood.  Warmth! Security!

    You don’t need the ointment to swathe a dead body, you can burn it joyously with incense of prayer and thanksgiving.

    Look with faith for the stone has been rolled away and in 13 short hours or so, you will receive the real Rock of Ages in an Easter banquet greater than ham or lamb—for it will be Jesus’ Body and Blood. Squint hard to see Him, and with faith you will behold the light growing ever more bright hovering like a pillar of fire upon This Altar, This Throne. And with the faithful women of Easter Morn, join the throng of Easter Eve and receive PEACE.

In The Name of The Father and of The + Son and of The Holy Ghost