Over the last few weeks, reflecting on readings from Thomas Keating has also fed me. According to the church, today is still Easter so I hope you will forgive me as I offer you again this week some thoughts on Keating’s themes of Light, Love and Life as seen through the lens of the Easter Vigil.
The third act of our three-act Easter liturgy begins with Light as we share with each other the flame drawn from the Paschal candle. Keating wrote, “The light from the Paschal Candle spreads from candle to candle, symbolizing Christ rising in our hearts..” But the small tapers we carry into the dark sanctuary do not fully overcome the darkness. It is only when the sanctuary suddenly fills with light and music that we become fully aware of the beauty that had been hidden in darkness. Flowers, music, bells, the faces of our brothers and sisters fully illuminated fill our senses, our eyes are opened to creation’s beauty and grace. Given divine light, we see the glory of Love.
But there is even more. We are assured that God’s very Life dwells within us. That little taper that we carried into darkness has its source in the Light of the World. And that Light is enabling us to see that we are Love, that our Life is more grace filled than we had thought.
The symbols of the Vigil are not meant to only speak of Light, Love and Life - they are to create an experience that awakens us to a deeper sense of awareness of Light, Love and Life all around us. Acknowledging this awakening, we end the liturgy with “Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!” But then, it really doesn’t end there, does it? We go forth to share what has been shot into us with full efficacy.