At the Easter Vigil, the great hymn of light, the "Exsultet," is sung. We call on the heavenly powers, the earth, and the church to rejoice and exult (hence the name for the hymn) because Christ has conquered death and vanquished darkness forever. This is a song of faith! We believe that the risen Christ is more powerful than evil, greater than sin, and stronger even than death itself - death! that ancient enemy to which we all fall victim.

In renewing our baptismal commitment this Sunday, we profess our own belief in the communion of saints and the resurrection of the body. All of us who are baptized-those in the past, and those living today are united beyond death by the power of the risen Lord. By uniting ourselves to him in baptism, we are already sharing in his risen life. His Spirit, "dwelling within us, gives us on earth the hope of unending joy" (Preface 34).

The rebirth of the natural world each spring puts our faith in context. God continually renews creation, bringing to birth that which seemed dead and lifeless. And God does the same for us. Even though sin may have taken hold of our lives, through Christ we are renewed and saved from our sinful past. Through repentance and conversion we are brought to new life, rejoicing again in our baptismal innocence. And, through our faith in Christ, we are saved from that final death that comes at the end. We believe that Jesus will raise up our mortal bodies to be like his own in glory. Just as that which seems to be dead comes back to life in the spring, so too, do we believe that those who have gone before us will also rise to share in the fullness of life in Christ.

This is the day the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad!