Easter, the Christian Passover, was originally a unitive feast, celebrating the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our participation therein. It included both a period of fasting and a rejoicing in Christ's victory and ours. This participation by the believer in the dying and rising again of Jesus Christ is the theological center of Christian faith and life. This is the gospel which the apostles proclaimed to the world, and it is our participation in the resurrection that makes us one with Jesus Christ. It is this proclamation which is central to the celebration of the Great Vigil of Easter. The Great Vigil leads us from death to life with Christ through fire, light, word, water and bread and wine.

A new fire is kindled, a great candle is lighted, by its light the Bible is read, prayer and praise are offered, and we celebrate the Easter sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. At the Great Vigil we celebrate the paschal mystery, which incorporates us into Christ's saving acts. Through the Great Vigil the mystery of Easter comes alive and we become a part of it.

The Vigil was already established in the fourth century. The tradition of holding a vigil of readings encompassing the whole history of salvation leading to a Eucharist at the beginning of the Lord's Day either at midnight or dawn is very early. From the earliest days of the church, the Easter Vigil was also primarily a means of preparing new converts for baptism into the Christian Faith, which was normally done on Easter Sunday as the focal point of the entire year.

By the light of the new fire the Hebrew Scriptures are read, beginning with the story of Creation, and including Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea. Each reading is followed by a psalm or canticle and a collect which gives a Christian context to the readings. As many as twelve lessons have been read at various times. These readings and their Christian interpretations were a summary of the church's tradition as it was passed on to a new generation of Christians preparing for baptism. The readings sum up baptismal instruction and bring the central teachings of Christianity to the consciousness of those already baptized as we move to the celebration of the Easter sacraments.

As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and our own participation in that resurrection, we bring new members to share in that new life through the baptismal washing, that we and they may pass with Christ through death to life. The Vigil is also an appropriate time for the reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant by the whole church, as we may remember that in the waters of baptism we made this passage with Christ.

It is in Vigil that we wait for Christ's resurrection, and it is in vigil that we share our faith, light the new fire, welcome the light, become re- born in the water and feast in the bread and wine, and with the proclamation of the Word of God we pass over with Christ from death to life, and with the church from Lent to Easter.

Come Celebrate the Great Vigil here at St. Augustine's on the evening of April 15, 2006, 10:30 p.m.