Easter Proclamation (Candles are lit and held, if possible and with care, until after the Proclmation)
Liturgy of the Word (After each reading there is a Responsorial Psalm and a Collect)
Let us now listen attentively to the Scriptures. They tell how God saved a chosen people in the course of history and, in the fullness of time, sent his only-begotten Son as our Redeemer. Let us pray that our God will bring to completion the saving work of the paschal mystery.
First Reading Genesis 1:1, 26-31
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 26 God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 27 So God created human beings in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
R/. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Collect
Almighty and eternal God, how wonderful is the work of your creation, how wisely you establish all things in order! Enlighten the people you have saved, that we may perceive the greater wonder of your new creation, brought forth in the fullness of time, when Christ our Passover was sacrificed, he who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Second Reading Genesis 22:1-18
God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And Abraham said, “Here I am.” 2 God said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” 9 When Abraham and Isaac came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 The angel said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”
R/. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Collect
God and Father of all the faithful, by the grace of adoption you increase throughout the world the children of your promise; in this paschal mystery you fulfil the pledge made long ago to Abraham, your servant, that he would be father to many nations. Grant that your people everywhere may respond with faith to the grace of your calling. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Third Reading Exodus 14:15--15:1
The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16 But you, lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. 17 Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.” 19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch, the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses. 20 The prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 1 Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
R/. Let us sing to the Lord, he has covered himself in glory.
Collect
God of ages, through the light of the new covenant, you unlock for us the meaning of those marvels you worked in ancient times: the waters of the Red Sea prefigure the waters of baptism, and the Israelites you once freed from slavery become a sign of your Christian people. Grant that every nation by virtue of its faith may inherit the same privilege you bestowed on Israel and receive new birth through the gift of your Spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen.
Fourth Reading Isaiah 54:5-14
Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts. 5 Your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. 6 For the Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man’s youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. 8 In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. 9 This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 11 O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones. 13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the prosperity of your children. 14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
R/. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Collect
Almighty and eternal God, for the glory of your name fulfil the promise you made long ago to men and women of faith, to bless them with descendants for ever. Increase your adopted children throughout the world, that your Church may see accomplished the salvation which those saints of old so firmly expected. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
R/. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Collect
Almighty and eternal God, only true hope of the world, through the voices of your prophets you announced the mysteries we celebrate tonight. Stir up the longings of your faithful people, because we grow in holiness only through the prompting of your grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sixth Reading Baruch 3:9-15, 32--4:4
Hear the commandments of life, O Israel; give ear, and learn wisdom! 10 Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies, that you are growing old in a foreign country, that you are defiled with the dead, 11 that you are counted among those in Hades? 12 You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom. 13 If you had walked in the way of God, you would be living in peace forever. 14 Learn where there is wisdom, where there is strength, where there is understanding, so that you may at the same time discern where there is length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace. 15 Who has found her place? And who has entered her storehouses? 32 But the one who knows all things knows her, he found her by his understanding. The one who prepared the earth for all time filled it with four-footed creatures; 33 the one who sends forth the light, and it goes; he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling; 34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad; he called them, and they said, “Here we are!” They shone with gladness for him who made them. 35 This is our God; no other can be compared to him. 36 He found the whole way to knowledge, and gave her to his servant Jacob and to Israel, whom he loved. 37 Afterward she appeared on earth and lived with humanity. 1 She is the book of the commandments of God, the law that endures forever. All who hold her fast will live, and those who forsake her will die. 2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her; walk toward the shining of her light. 3 Do not give your glory to another, or your advantages to an alien people. 4 Happy are we, O Israel, for we know what is pleasing to God.
R/. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
Collect
God of life, by calling all nations to be saved you cause your Church to grow. In your mercy hear our prayers and keep for ever safe those whom you cleanse in the waters of baptism. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:16-28
The word of the Lord came to me: 17 Mortal, when the house of Israel lived on their own soil, they defiled it with their ways and their deeds; their conduct in my sight was unclean. 18 So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for the idols with which they had defiled it. 19 I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I judged them. 20 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that it was said of them, “These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.” 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. 22 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes. 24 I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
R/. Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God, my soul longs for you, my God.
Collect
Lord God, in both Testaments of Holy Scripture you teach us to celebrate the paschal mystery. Grant that we may understand the workings of your mercy, so that the gifts we receive today may confirm our hope of blessings to come. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen.
Epistle Romans 6:3-11
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia
Gospel Mark 16:1-7
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Intercessions (Peter Scagnelli; Prayers for Sundays and Seasons)
In the radiant splendor of this most holy night, let us cry out to the Lord whose might deeds we have seen in the deliverance of God’s people through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For the people of God, brought through saving waters to a land of promise: May our lives be a song of joy to the Lord who has triumphed gloriously.
For all the human race, created in the image and likeness of God: May God place within all peoples a new heart and a new spirit.
For innocent victims of terror and persecution: May violence be banished and righteousness with prosperity be restored.
For those newly baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ: May they walk always with Christ in newness of life.
For those who feel abandoned in their affliction: May God’s great compassion gather them into the care of the community.
For the faithful departed whose life-long vigil for the Lord has ended: May those who have died with Christ also live with him.
O God, your saving plan has brought us to the glory of this night. Slaves, we become your sons and daughters, poor, your mercy makes us rich, sinners, you count us among your saints. Bring us to know the place that is ours in the unfolding story of your purpose, and instill in our hearts the wonder of your salvation. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)
Closing Hymn