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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
king of the nations,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts
anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit
that we may witness to your gospel
and sing your praise in all the earth.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Mark 4.21-25
Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’
Reflection
Jesus said: Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?
At the Easter Vigil a new fire is lit. That new fire is then used to light our Easter Candles, the candles that will shine out with the light of the risen Christ for the whole of the following year. Our Easter Candles take pride of place for the next fifty days. Until the Day of Pentecost they stand next to our altar tables, reminding us of the joyous season we should be experiencing in every aspect of our lives. After the Day of Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in wind and flame, our Easter Candles are moved to stand alongside the fonts in our churches. Until the next Easter Vigil they are only lit at baptisms and funerals. These ancient rituals may seem odd to some, but they contain within them the heart of today’s message.
Jesus walked this earth, and his light shone out for all to see. His conquering of death was a unique moment in human history, a moment in which an inextinguishable flame was lit. That eternal flame should not be hidden away, rather it should be placed in a prominent place and shine out for all to see. From our Easter Vigil until the Day of Pentecost that light is represented by our special candles. As they stand at the front of our churches they act as a constant reminder of the light which both guides and guards. Then, on the Day of Pentecost, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. The flame, the light of God, falls upon us, filling us with the light and life of God. The Easter Candle moves to stand, unlit, by the font as we take on the responsibility of shining out in Christ’s name. The Easter Candles are lit again only at those moments when a Christian life begins (baptism) and when a life ends. At those moments we cannot exist in our own strength, and that tangible reminder of Christ’s resurrection shines out as a reminder, as a consolation and as inspiration for us to continue our faithful journey in this world.
Let us pray that Christ’s light may ever shine out through our words and actions. Let us pray that we might never seek to cloak Christ’s light. Let us pray that others may be dazzled by that light and that their own journey of faith may be fanned into flame.
Prayers
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the people of God in all the world
may worship in spirit and in truth,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the Church may discover again
that unity which is the Father’s will,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the nations of the earth
may seek after the ways that make for peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the whole creation, groaning in travail,
may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God,
let us pray to the Lord.
That all who with Christ have entered the shadow of death
may rest in peace and rise in glory,
let us pray to the Lord.
Let us commend the world, to which Christ showed the way,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Believing the promises of God,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ the Son of God
perfect in us the image of his glory
and gladden our hearts
with the good news of his kingdom;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.