Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": Easter Vigil

Readings

Gn 1:1-2:2 Earth was formless. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He separated light from darkness, created sky, earth, sea, plants, trees, sun, moon, stars, sea creatures, birds, cattle, creeping things, and wild animals. God made human beings in the divine image, gave them dominion, looked at everything, found it very good, and rested.
Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35 "Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth." Bless the Lord; in wisdom you created and sustain everything.
Ps 33:4-7, 12-13, 20, 22 "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." The Lord's works are trustworthy. Blessed those God has chosen. We wait for the Lord, our help.

Gn 22:1-18 God put Abraham to the test: “Offer your only son as a holocaust.” He went out and prepared for the sacrifice, but an angel told him to stop; he found and offered a ram. “Because you obeyed, I'll bless you with land and descendents.”
Ps 16:5, 8-11 "You are my inheritance, O Lord." I rejoice because you show me the path to life and joy and won't abandon me.

Ex 14:15-15:1 Lord to Moses, “Go with the Israelites, split the sea, and pass on the dry land. The Egyptians will pursue you, but through them I'll receive glory.” God led them with a cloud, they crossed. Egyptians pursued them, but their wheels clogged, water flowed back, and they drowned. The Israelites saw, believed, and sang.
Ex 15:1-6, 17-18 "Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory." I praise the Lord, my God, savior, strength, courage; he redeemed us and hurled Pharaoh's army into the sea. Your powerful right hand shattered the enemy.

Is 54:5-14 The Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One, calls you back. I abandoned you briefly but now take you back tenderly. My love shall never leave you.
Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-13 "I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me." For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will.

Is 55:1-11 Come to the water! Eat and drink! Heed me, and you shall eat well; listen and live. I'll renew the covenant with you. Seek and call the Lord; God generously forgives. My thoughts and ways are higher than yours. My word won't return to me till it does my will.
Is 12:2-6 "You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation." The Lord has been my savior. Praise the Lord for his glorious achievement; proclaim his deeds and name.

Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4 You've forsaken the fountain of wisdom! Prudence, strength, understanding, life, peace, and wisdom are in God. Receive Wisdom and walk by her light.
Ps 19:8-11 "Lord, you have the words of everlasting life."

Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 I scattered the House of Israel because of their idolatry, but I've relented. I'll gather you and bring you back, cleanse you, give you a new heart and spirit, and make you live by my statutes and be my people.
Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4 "Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God." Send your light to lead me to you, and I'll go to God's altar and thank you.

Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 "You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation." God is my savior, strength, and courage; sing praise!
Ps 51:12-15, 18-19 "Create a clean heart in me, O God." Give me back the joy of your salvation, and I'll teach your ways. You'll accept my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.

Rom 6:3-11 We were baptized into Christ's death, buried with him so we might live a new life, united with him in the resurrection. Our old self was crucified with him, that we might no longer be slaves of sin; we'll live with him. Death has no power over the risen Christ. Think of yourselves as dead to sin and living in Christ for God.

Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 "Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia." Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever. I'll live and declare God's works. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Mt 28:1-10 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. An angel rolled back the stone, and told them, “Fear not! Look: Jesus has been raised from the dead; go tell his disciples. They went and announced it. Jesus met them on the way: “Fear not; tell my brothers to go to Galilee and see me.”

Pope Francis

Homily: Jesus’ call to “return to Galilee” is a call to re-read everything in the life of Christ on the basis of the cross and its victory, from this supreme act of love. It's also a call to rediscover your baptism, drawing new energy from faith and experience. Return to the blazing light with which God’s grace touched me. “Returning to Galilee” also means renewing a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, reviving the memory of that moment when our eyes met, the moment when he made me realize he loved me.

See yesterday's post for Via Crucis and Good Friday homily; watch here for Easter Vigil when available.

Reflections

Creighton: Tonight we bless baptismal water, welcome new believers who will die, rise, and live with Christ, taking up his mission of love and service. Enjoy the celebration of life!

One Bread One Body: Jesus' burial shows he really died. "Through baptism... we were buried with him, so, as Christ was raised, we might live a new life" (Rm 6:4). "In baptism you were buried and raised with him because you believed in God's power" (Col 2:12). Identify with the buried Jesus.

Passionist: Jesus' crucifixion shattered the hopes and dreams of his followers. Today's vigil begins in silence and darkness with a bare altar.

DailyScripture.net: Where's my hope: in this life or God's promise of everlasting life?

Moved to greater love of Jesus suffering and dead, to experience new life in his resurrection: Imagine Mary, John, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Mark, Joseph of Arimathea, and the disciples the day after Jesus was crucified. What were they thinking and saying? How have I experienced the grace of vision this Lent? How am I called to surrender to and serve Christ the Lord?

Apparel

Blue in suspenders: water, God-created, of Red Sea, of baptism...
"Plants" pin: God made the plants (I can represent trees, birds, cattle, wild animals, and people too but drew the line.)
"Fish with cross" pin: God made fish; Jesus is risen
"Star" tie pin: God made the stars; Christ the Morning Star
"Sheep" tie bar: Abraham: "God will provide sheep for the holocaust"
"Chariot" tie pin: Pharaoh's chariots
"Horse" tie pin: "Horse and rider he cast into the sea"
"Telephone" tie bar: "Seek the Lord while he may be found; the Lord 'calls' you back; 'call' him while he is near"
"Owl" tie pin: "the decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple."
"Eyeball" tie pin: "the command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. "
"Hearts" suspenders: "Create a clean heart in me"; "I will give you a new heart..."; "My sacrifice is a contrite heart"
"Stone" tie pin: "...taking from your bodies your stony hearts"; "angel rolled away the stone"
"Deer" tie pin: "Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God."
White shirt: "his clothing was white as snow"; color of the day

Music

Dress your life!

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"