Invisible Hands Ministry is up-and-running.  If you are unable to get out for whatever reason and need shopping done or a meal cooked and delivered, call 724-941-9406, ext. 301, and leave a message or E-Mail to: helpers@sbapeters.org
 
Live Stream Masses For Easter – We will be live streaming two Masses for Easter.  On Saturday night at 7:30 pm is the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday morning at 8:00 am.  If you can’t watch the Mass live, each will be archived on the web page for later viewing.  Also, if you have never before attended the Vigil Mass I invite you to watch.  I have written an explanation of the seven Old Testament Readings which are read.  Usually, we don’t read all of them because of all the other rituals which take place at the Vigil like baptisms and confirmations, but this year we will be reading all seven.  The Easter Vigil is a great way to reflect on and celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection.
 
Live Stream Weekdays – We will continue to live stream weekday Mass at 8:30 am every day this week.  Again, if you can’t watch live, the weekday Mass is archived for later viewing.
 
The Seven Old Testament Readings At the Easter Vigil

On Saturday Evening we are celebrating the Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m.  Normally, it begins with the Blessing of the Fire and lighting of the new Pascal Candle.  It contains the welcoming of new people into the faith with the celebration of Baptism and Confirmation.  It also contains the reading of seven readings from the Old Testament.  Usually, we don’t read them all because of the time factor.  This year, however, since we cannot welcome new people into the faith or celebrate baptisms or confirmations, we will be proclaiming all seven readings, which gives us a chance to reflect on their richness in pointing the way toward Jesus and His Resurrection.   

It’s significant that the first of the seven Old Testament readings is the story of creation in Gen 1:1 – 2:2.  Not only does the re-telling of the story of creation set the stage for a new creation at the Resurrection, but there’s simply so much symbolism in the story.
 

1. On the “first day,” God creates the world.  On days 2 through 6, God creates something within the world, and on the day 7, God rests.  It’s significant that the Resurrection also occurs on the “first day” of the week.  It’s like the cycle repeating itself once again with the “first day,” which signifies that the Resurrection is the creation of something new — a New Creation.


2. Also looking at Gen 1:1, there is the wind and water.  The wind represents the very breath of God, the wind and water together prefigure the Sacrament of Baptism which will happen through Jesus.


3. Continuing in verse 1, God says, “Let there be light.”  Who is the light of the world?  None other than Jesus Christ Himself.  But not only that, it’s God doing the speaking which reminds of God’s Word.  Taken together, we have:
   
   a.         God the Father creating
   b.         The Spirit hovering over the water
   c.         The Word prefiguring Jesus, the Son. 
    
   So, in verse 1 we find none other than the mystery of the Trinity itself.


4. On day 6, God says, “Let us make man in our image.”  Why use the plural “us”?  It’s a further reference to the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) into which humanity is created.  We enter into that life of the Trinity through being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

Pretty cool stuff.  Farfetched?  Maybe if we’ve never had this symbolism explained to us.  But it wasn’t farfetched to the early Christian Fathers at all.  Writing in the centuries immediately following Christ, they pick up on this symbolism right away and write about it prominently.

If the first reading of at the Easter Vigil isn’t enough the next six Old Testament readings also prefigure a future New Testament reality:

1. The sacrifice of Abraham’s son, Isaac, prefigures the death of God’s Beloved Son, Jesus.


2. The crossing of the Red Sea prefigures our deliverance from Satan and sin in the waters of baptism.


3. The Wedding of God and His bride in Isaiah prefigures Jesus being the divine Bridegroom.


4. The feast of the water and wine prefigures the Eucharist.


5. The coming of Wisdom in the Old Testament prefigures the coming of God’s Word In the New Testament.


6. The sprinkling of water in Ezekiel prefigures the gift of Baptism and the Holy Spirit.

Then, after the seven Old Testament readings, there’s the Epistle, the New Testament reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans 6:3-11, which sums it all up.

So, the Resurrection is not simply a proof of Jesus’ divinity or that he is the Messiah (although Jesus is).  Rather, it’s the beginning of a New Creation which breaks the power of death.  You and I are part of this New Creation with God being present in us.  Jesus shows us how to live in this New Creation, which will culminate in the possibility of the Resurrection for each one of us. Talk about hope and joy!  Nothing is greater!  Happy Easter!