Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

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Celebrating the Great Easter Vigil

March 26, 2016 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Celebrating the Great Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil, the summit of the Triduum, the greatest and most noble of all solemnities, begins in the darkness and desolation of the tomb; the darkness in our world, the darkness in our hearts. In that primordial darkness we linger in watchful wakefulness awaiting in hope the shattering of the uncomprehending darkness by the Morning Star.

In the Resurrection, Jesus vanquishes the darkness, which may obscure but never engulf the Light of Christ which seeks out the darkest corners of our world and our hearts, to quench the flames of despair and hopelessness.

This is what we celebrate at the Great Easter Vigil, the reemergence of the unconquerable Light of Christ symbolized by the new fire from which the Paschal or Easter Candle is lit. The Light of Christ is not quiescent but animated by the Holy Spirit to not only scatter the darkness but to spread the light.

Slowly the darkness of the church surrenders to the Light as the flame from the new fire is spread. The Paschal Candle is placed in its stand and the Exsultet or Easter proclamation is sung. Dating back to about the fifth century this beautiful hymn invites us to “Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad knowing an end to gloom and darkness.”

It is well to keep in mind that for more than a millennia this hymn was sung in a world lit only by fire. The dichotomy between light and darkness was a much more profound reality than it is in our day when darkness can be dispelled by the flip of a switch. Thus the hymn includes the gift of the bees from whose wax “a torch so precious” is fashioned.

While the Exsultet traces the history of salvation, it is centered upon God’s unshadowed light that “dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.”

Finally, in an allusion to our watchful waiting in primordial darkness, the hymn prays that “this flame may be found still burning by the Morning Star; the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your son.”

More ancient than the Exsultet is the Baptismal Liturgy that may be traced to sub-apostolic times. Once again we return to the light and darkness dichotomy. The east was associated with the Resurrection and the Second Coming. St. John of Damascus taught, “We adore him facing east, for that is the tradition passed down from the Apostles.” Those to be baptized would face west and renounce the darkness, then turn to Christ in the dawning light in the east.

After their baptism and anointing the newly baptized would join the community for the Easter Vigil.

Today, at Easter Vigil services in their parishes, baptismal rites are essentially the same. In the Diocese of Dallas in 2016 more than 2,300 adults and children will turn to Christ and be received into the Church through baptism or profession of faith.

St. Paul wrote, “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life” (Rom 6: 3-4). These new Catholics look east awaiting Him whose Resurrection they shared in baptism. We welcome them.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Being Catholic Tagged With: easter vigil, Exsultet, Resurrection

We are witnesses to the Resurrection

April 20, 2014 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Resurrection of Christ

Today we celebrate the crowning truth of our Christian faith, the Resurrection of Jesus.

Easter is a time of great joy and happy memories. We emerge from the penitential season of Lent and the Sacred Triduum into the dawn of the Resurrection. Good Friday, the nadir of salvation history, is always followed by Easter, the zenith, and the two events can never be separated.

Beginning with Pentecost the Resurrection becomes the center of apostolic preaching and Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians that “if Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.” (I Cor. 15:14) Each of us is called to bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus, by word and action. The Second Vatican Council said, “Each individual lay person must stand before the world as a witness to the Resurrection and the life of the Lord Jesus and as a sign that God lives.” (Lumen Gentium #38)

Salvation history, the story of our redemption begins with the Incarnation, when God responds to our brokenness by sending his Son to dwell among us. It continues with the life and teaching of Jesus leading up to his Passion and death. It culminates in his Resurrection and return to the Father with the Ascension. From there, together with the Father, he sends the Holy Spirit beginning on Pentecost, to strengthen and enable us to join our response to the Father’s healing and forgiving love to Jesus’ perfect response.

It is also a time of happy memories.  From our childhood, we remember Easter baskets filled with colored eggs and candies, new outfits, family celebrations and stories of how Easter Bunnies and Easter Eggs, symbols of new life, came to be associated with Jesus’ rising to new life.  Of course, we are also reminded of the new life we shared with him at our own baptism.

Nature seems to join in the celebration as trees bud and crocus, daffodils, iris and tulips suddenly appear. New life springs forth everywhere. The somber Lenten vestments of the priest at Mass are replaced by the white of the Easter Season and we begin to prepare for Pentecost and being renewed by the Spirit.

This Easter season I pray that each of you and your loved ones will know the joy of the Resurrection and bear witness to it in your family and in your relations with others, especially the poor and marginalized.  May God bless each of you during this most joyous and holy time!

Image Credit: Resurrection of Christ by Raffaellino del Garbo (Wikimedia Commons)

Filed Under: Holidays and Holy Days Tagged With: Easter, Resurrection

The Resurrection of the Lord

March 30, 2013 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. (Ps 118:24)

Ecclesiastes tells us that everything has its time. Easter is the time of joy and celebration. It is Resurrection time, and all creation seems to join in the celebration. Winter’s darkness surrenders to Spring’s sunshine and soft days. Jonquils and tulips burst from the ground and green-up begins.

This year is especially joyful because God has given us a new leader, Pope Francis. Pundits are still seeking an explanation for his election “out of the blue.” For those of us who believe, no explanation is necessary; for others, no explanation is possible. The Holy Spirit blows where it will.

As we emerge from the Lenten penitence into Easter joy let us keep in mind that the real message of Easter is that we are reconciled to the Father through Jesus’ loving sacrifice. Just as He was impelled by the Father’s love to take on human nature to reconcile us, Jesus’ love should impel us to be reconciled to others.

Forgiveness and healing are not only received, they are given. The Church cannot be the reconciling community it is called to be if it is not a loving community. The fruit of the Resurrection is not condemnation but forgiveness. We must all practice discipleship by becoming reconcilers—within our families, within our Church and within our society.

I pray that each of you and that our Church will be infused with the Holy Joy of the Resurrection and become joyful heralds of the Good News of the Gospel.

I wish you all a blessed and joyous Easter!

Filed Under: Holidays and Holy Days Tagged With: Easter, En Español, Gloria, Resurrection

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About Bishop Farrell

Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell was appointed Seventh Bishop of Dallas on March 6, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.
   
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