So this last Easter Vigil, was my first. Ever. Now before you start judging me on my Catholicity and how the heck did I become a Full Time Pastoral Worker – let me answer your judgement call that I have no idea. Praise God, that God calls those who needs His love the most.
Now for those who do not know what happens during an Easter Vigil, it is the greatest and noblest of all solemnities (EV, No.2*) Basically it is your mass on steroids. It literally takes you down Salvation History from the beginning to now. And it’s a bunch of sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist) happening in one fantastic liturgy. But that is for another reflection, maybe next year.
There was one part of the liturgy that became really personal to me and the image still sticks to me now. During the sacrament of baptism, there was a good number of people to be baptized ranging from young babies to kids, teens, young adults and to elderly people. They were all of different races. But there was this one girl who I think was in her late teens or early twenties that really amazed me.
As she was called up to be baptized, she was so excited that she was about to be a part of the family of God. Now at her age, she already knows what it means to be Catholic. She understands that the teachings of the Church go against the ways of the world. Yet for her, the fullness of life can only come through a faith that is lived. You can see it in her eyes as she was waiting for her turn to be baptized.
Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. – Exodus 34:29
After her baptism, as she was walking back to her spot in the line, there was this profound and distinct joy that emanated from her. Something like what happened to Moses when he was talking with God. Not even my words can ever describe the joy I saw beaming out of her. If there could be a person that could be joy personified that was her. She was literally lighting up the Church.
There I was witnessing a person who had just met Christ, who could no longer contain it that her life becomes a visible and tangible sign that God indeed loves us. Her visible sign of Christ’s love should be also be visible in us. For though her baptism was just last week, we were also baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. It is the same God who loves us unconditionally and extends his covenant to us – making us His children.
To me, her witness, was a slap in my face. For I’m quite known to always look serious and to always be deep in my thoughts. Don’t get me wrong, I am joyful as well – but I guess I need to make a better effort in making that joy known through my face and more importantly my actions.
Christ is indeed Risen. That is the cause of our joy. We are an Easter people. We should then be a people of joy.
Saint Philip Neri, we take ourselves far too seriously most of the time. Help us to add humour to our perspective — remembering always that humour is a gift from God. Help us to live out this profound joy, from the Risen Christ, in our lives. Amen.
*Missale Romanum, “Rubrics for the Easter Vigil” (EV)