Easter Vigil 2008

Of all the celebrations in the Catholic Church, the most dignified and magnificent one is the Easter Vigil. On top of the solemnity of the Eucharistic celebration, there are the Rite of the Light and the Baptism of the catechumens who have undergone at least 18 months of instruction and the final scrutinies in the Lent season.
The congregation gather inside the church shrouded in darkness. The chief celebrant, Fr. John Kwan, blesses a new fire, lights up the huge Easter Candle which leads the whole procession, catechumens and celebrants, into the church. Lumen Christi is sung 3 times and the altar boys light up their own candles from the Easter Candle. Then they pass the flame to candles in the hands of congregation. The whole church is flooded with a sea of candle lights. With a candle in hand, Fr. Martin Ip leads the congregation to sing a Passover Ode. Then several passages from the Bible which trace out the theme of salvation history from creation, election of Abraham, Exodus and universal salvation of all mankind, are read. Gloria, which is not sung throughout the Lent season, is then sung. Romans 6 is read.

St. Paul points out that we are baptized into Christ Jesus. Which means, through baptism, we are united with Jesus in his death. This union with Christ enables us to be raised from the dead.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). But what kind of death have we undergone in baptism? We are still alive after baptism, aren't we?
St. Paul continues to explain.
We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6). Therefore, death in baptism means crucifixion of our old self, the destruction of the sinful body and the freedom from the slavery of sin. The fact is, baptized Christians continue to sin. Is their baptism not effective? No. Far be it. We have only considered half of the picture. We have focused on death, one side of the coin of existence. The other side is life.
Life and death are engaged in a constant battle which will only end at the end of the world. As long as man exists, this struggle will continue. It will continue even without men. From a naturalistic point of view, death is a necessary evil. Death curbs the spread of life which consumes the limited resources in the universe. Life must come to an end, decay, become the nutrients of other lives and recycle. This is natural because the universe has only finite resources to sustain the activities of living organisms.
Despite attempts from scientists to dethrone man from the centre of Creation, they cannot deny the fact that man holds a disproportional stake in Creation. Man concentrates most of the resources in his hands. With more resources and greater power come graver responsibility. So far, man seems to be the only self-conscious creature in Creation. He is aware of himself, his situation and is able to build up a dialogue with the Creator. Therefore, he is held responsible for upholding Creation. St. Paul expresses it well.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:19-23).
Baptism does not mean death and only death. It also means a new life. St. Paul explains.
The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:10-11).
Therefore, baptism starts our life in God.

My sweet Jesus, we celebrate Your Passover. We await Your return. Through baptism we are united in Your death as well as Your resurrection. May the new life You awaken in us bear fruit and lead us home. Amen.