PRAYER

God, You keep watch as You never slumber or sleep. Although the night is shrouded in darkness, there is faith and hope rekindling. God You keep watch as You are a steady and strong fortress. We await the coming glory.

READING

Matthew 27:57-66

⁵⁷ As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, ⁵⁸ went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. ⁶⁰ He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. ⁶¹ Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.

⁶² The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. ⁶³ They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ ⁶⁴ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

⁶⁵ Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” ⁶⁶ So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

REFLECTION

Easter Vigil is a Holy time for the church. Christians all around the globe attend services that begin in darkness and waiting. The absence of light represents Jesus' death. A fire is lit outside the church and from it, the new Paschal candle is lit, representing the Light of Christ returning. It echoes the creation story when God says, "'Let there be light' and there was light. And God saw that the light was good" (Genesis 1:3) Next, the priest leads a processional into the church while chanting "The Light of Christ" with people responding "Thanks be to God". Once inside the church, people will light their individual candles and share the flame with one another. Soon, the church is full of light representing, the light of Christ which dispels the darkness. If you have never attended an Easter Vigil service, consider joining your parish service if available. It is a sacred and Holy service which evokes all the senses in worship (some churches use incense and bells). This Holy night is one of hope. It begins in the despair of death and darkness and concludes with resurrected life and light.

LENT CHECK IN

Many families enjoy dyeing eggs in preparation for Easter. One method of decorating is to use a wax or white crayon on the egg before dyeing. Even as you decorate your egg, you can’t see what the finished design will look like. Holy Saturday is like wax crayon eggs. It is a day of waiting. We know we have something precious and beautiful, but we cannot yet see what the completed picture is. And so we must wait, as Mary waited, and the disciples waited.

Suggested family activity:

• Use a pale-colored or white crayon and draw or write on your egg. If you don’t have enough eggs, use a white crayon on white paper.

• Dye your egg. If you’re using paper, dilute 1 tsp of paint (any colour) with a ¼ cup of water.

• If you’re using paint, gently brush over your paper to reveal your creation.

• Pull your egg out of the dye. Those invisible wax images are now clearly white, surrounded by brilliant egg dye.

Light a Candle

Holy Saturday brings us, at last, to glorious rekindling of the Light of the World and the Paschal Candle. Light your candle and say:

Leader: Jesus is the Light of the World!

ALL: A light that will never go out.

Leader: Jesus, shine bright in each of us today and every day.

ALL: Jesus be in our mind and my thoughts (+ on your forehead).

Jesus be in our mouth and my words (+ on your lips).

Jesus be in our heart and soul (+ on your heart).

Amen.

Place your candle in an area that all can see.

Participating in the activities surrounding Holy Week have prepared us to share Christ’s Light with one another and the world. Alleluia!