Earth, air, fire, water – ancient writers in many cultures described everything in the world as made up of some combination of those four elements. Modern people might have a bit of smug superiority reading how the different elements combined to make elephants, hurricanes and Jello brand gelatin. But to be honest, while I am sure modern science is more accurate in saying that everything is made up of atoms, it takes as much of an act of faith to believe we’re made up of tiny spinning particles as to believe in earth, air, fire and water. Which leads us to the celebration of the liturgy of this Easter Vigil. One way of understanding this holy night is to see that everything – earth, air, fire and water — can only be understood in light of the Risen Christ.
We began the liturgy with fire. It was from that Easter fire that we obtained light – the light of the Pascal Candle which was then spread to each of our individual candles. As each small candle was lit the darkness was driven farther away. One candle didn’t make much of a difference but all of our candles together created an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. On this Easter night we celebrate that Christ is our light, the one who keeps the forces of darkness, of sin, of error, of distress at bay. When we stay together in the light fear and anxiety are driven from our thoughts. Walking in the light of Christ assures us that when we stay on the path of life we are led to the fullness of joy.
Next we heard the Scripture readings. We used the very air that we breath to proclaim the word of God. We speak nowadays of “filling the airwaves.” Whatever the message is – political, economic, commercial – gets broadcast through the air. This night we use those same airwaves to broadcast something different, the very revelation of God. As we heard the story of God told from “in the beginning” up to “He is not here; he has been raised” we learn the ways of God in the world. There is “something in the air” we say to describe a common feeling or sense of how things are going. We recognize on this night that in the air is a message of God’s ongoing promise and plan to transform this world of ours into a place of peace and love.
In a moment we will highlight the role that water plays for us as followers of Jesus. When the astronomers find another planet the first thing they look for is water because water is the prerequisite for life. Water is what makes life possible. The sacrament of baptism uses water to inaugurate us into the life of Christ. As St. Paul put it in the epistle, “we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death … so we too might live in newness of life.” As Evelyn on this night, as all of us at some point in our history, enter the waters of baptism we join with Jesus in dying to self and “living for God.” The waters of baptism give us the true and lasting life we long for.
We will end our service this evening by celebrating the Holy Eucharist where bread and wine – “fruit of the earth and work of human hands” as the liturgy puts it – becomes for us the real presence of Christ in our midst. If you think of it there is something ironic about calling our planet Earth. Only 29% of the planet is made up of earth; the rest is covered by water. Why don’t we call our home world Water? Perhaps because it is earth which sustains us as a mother might. The earth enables us to grow and develop by providing us with food. Christ left us the Eucharist as the food which will enable us to thrive in this world. The earth simply gives us the food we eat as if we were due it. Jesus gives us the Eucharist as the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is the promise of the life which is yet to come.
Earth, air, fire and water. The elements of the world, the elements of this Easter Vigil are designed to help us to recognize Christ in all things. “All was created through him, all was created for him,” according to St. Paul. As we live out our faith let us understand the truth that in Christ “we live and move and have our being.” That is how we share in the power flowing from the Risen Christ at Easter, that is how we live in God’s love.
