The Biblical story, the story of Jesus, and our story are all part of the grand tapestry which God has woven from the moment of creation.

Whenever trouble would threaten Israel Rabbi Baal Shem Tov would go to the sacred place, light the holy fire, say the special prayer and trouble would be averted. His disciple was not the man his teacher was and he forgot how to make the holy fire. When trouble would threaten Israel he would go to the sacred place and say the special prayer and it would be enough. Trouble would be averted. His disciple was not the man his teacher was and he didn’t know the whereabouts of the sacred place. He could only say the special prayer but that would be enough for trouble to be averted. The next disciple even forgot the special prayer. When trouble would threaten Israel all he could do was tell the story of how Baal Shem Tov and his ancestors in the faith had saved Israel. But that telling was enough, Israel would be saved, for God loves stories.

The stories God loves best are the stories of compassion, of forgiveness, of generosity, of love. And the greatest of those stories is the story of Easter. The resurrection of Jesus is the turning point of history, a time with a before and an after. Because Jesus conquered sin and death at the Resurrection on that first Easter morning who we are and what it means to be a human being has been irrevocably altered. We are now Easter people with the promise of new life won for us by Jesus. The liturgy at this Easter vigil is shaped so we will realize that the story of Easter is part of a much bigger story, the story of God’s ongoing relationship with humanity. The Biblical story, the story of Jesus, and our story are all part of the grand tapestry which God has woven from the moment of creation.

The story starts, as many stories do, at the very beginning. God created everything and God created everything good. But almost immediately a worm got in the apple and God’s good world spiraled out of control. So God chose one family, one people to serve as an exemplar, a model of how to live out the love of God in the world. Over time those people landed in slavery but God delivered them from bondage so they could live in freedom. However, they took that freedom and abuse, misused and confused it. The prophets arose who kept calling the people back. Live for good, live for holiness, live for God. The story is a checkered one with every time of conversion followed by one of backsliding. God’s story reached fulfillment when God chose to share human life. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He brought us healing, wholeness, community, forgiveness and love. For this we killed him since he upset the way of the world. But death could not hold him for love is stronger than death. He arose from death and gathers us into his arms to lead us to a fuller and richer life with God.

The story of salvation which culminates at Easter is not the last chapter. We too are part of the story of God. Yealine’s story has led her to the fount of baptism so she too can partake in the life of love which Jesus won for us. Each one of us has our own story – probably much like that of the people of God throughout history with ups and downs, ins and outs, ecstasy and agony. On this night, this Easter vigil, we should all remember and reflect on our story. Whether our current chapter is a happy one or a sad one we have peeked at the last page and know how the story comes out. The Risen Jesus has promised to be with us and he will welcome us at the supreme moment of our life with these words: Come, beloved of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. That is why we say Happy Easter. That is why Alleluia is our song.