Vigil

(Anonymous)

by: Josef Žáček

Emptiness,

darkness, 

silence

as if all hope has been lost.

A strike of flint, 

a spark of hope, 

new fire blazing in our midst.

One light pierces the darkness

and then spreads

more...and...more...

until all is aglow with new light,

rekindled hope.

Rejoice!  

Exult!

This is the night!

Adam's sin 

gives way

to so great a Redeemer!

Work of the mother bees,

heaven weds to earth,

morning star that never sets,

hope for a broken world.

Ancient stories shared and told,

yet seem so present to us.

Creation, 

deliverance,

prophetic call,

salvation,

hope.

Glory to God in the highest

sung by bells and organ.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Never again

must we forget

the refrain. 

They are our songs,

the songs

that sing out "Hope."

An empty tomb,

confusion,

fear,

despair.

And then 

amazement,

good news,

joy,

resurrection,

hope.

They say that 

water and oil

cannot mix,

but tonight

they cannot separate.

New life,

rebirth,

sealed in the Spirit.

We are bathed

in new water,

hope for eternal life.

Bread and wine

placed on a table,

our gift of self

is present there, too.

Now body and blood,

gifts transformed,

just as our lives

are transformed, too.

Emptiness,

darkness,

silence.

But now 

it is the tomb.

Hope is never lost,

but always found

ever anew.