Telling the Whole Story – 16 April 2022 – Vigil of Easter

Those who attend this vigil are self-selected Christians willing and able to follow a long service. For many communities it is appropriate to proclaim all the readings assigned by their lectionary. Pastoral discretion, however, must determine the number of readings. The many readings from the Old Testament all speak of ways in which God has blessed or rescued his people. From the first act of creation through the restoration of Israel from exile, these pericopes represent some of the highest points in salvation history. Whatever readings are selected they are to be read according to the assigned sequence with the observance.

The reading from Exodus is mandatory in the Vigil. –– Regina Boisclair

VIGIL READINGS from the Old Testament:

FIRST Genesis 1:1–2:4a The majestic account of creation . . . [with] God as the source.

SECOND Genesis 7:1–5, 11–18, 8:6–18, 9:8–13 The flood that . . . ends with . . . the rainbow sign of the promise.

THIRD Genesis 22:1–18 The sacrifice of Isaac . . . and the depth of Abraham’s faith.

FOURTH Exodus 14:10–31; 15:20–21 God’s saving of Israel.

FIFTH Isaiah 55:1–11 God’s promise of renewal.

SIXTH Proverbs 8:1–8, 19–21; 9:4b–6 Follow the ways of wisdom.

SEVENTH Ezekiel 36:24–28 God promises to gather and restore Israel from the nations.

EIGHTH Ezekiel 37:1–14 The valley of dry bones restored with God’s breath.

NINTH Zephaniah 3:12–20, 3:14–20 God promises to save, restore, and renew his people.

TENTH Jonah 3:1–10 The call of Jonah.

ELEVENTH Deuteronomy 31:19–30 The Song of Moses

TWELFTH Daniel 3:1–9 The Fiery Furnace

Luke 24:1–12

While most Christians know that one or more women were first to find the tomb empty, had the selection included Luke 23:55–56 preceding the selection it would enhance recognition that women were the first witnesses to proclaim Easter faith.

Luke reports that they saw two men in dazzling garments (the first century’s image of angels) who asked the women, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” and told them to remember Jesus taught that he would be delivered into the hands of the sinful and crucified but would rise on the third day. After the text reports that they went and told the eleven and others, it identifies three witnesses (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James), mentioning that there were other women with them. The passage concludes that their words were not believed, yet Peter went, saw the burial cloths, and went home amazed.

The remembrance recommended to the women in this passage is the Easter message. Remembrance brings the past into the present—thus . . . Jesus comes to be really present in the minds and hearts of the believing community . –– Regina Boisclair

Romans 6:3–11

This magnificent passage speaks of one of Paul’s most profound insights on Christian reality. Joined to Christ’s death and burial in baptism, we are crucified with Christ, no longer slaves to sin. Called to new life, we will be united and live with him in a resurrection like unto his. –– Regina Boisclair

Regina Boisclair, a Roman Catholic biblical scholar, is Emerita Professor at Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, Alaska.

Homily Service 43, no. 2 (2009): 79–93.