Good Moon Rising

I saw a good moon rising for the first time ever during the Easter Vigil. As the first chapter of Genesis was being read I glanced off in the distance to what looked like amazing strong car headlights creating a glow at the apex of a large hill. With great confusion I speculated what would be up high on the hillside, and why it would need such a large amount of light. As my mind rattled off possibility after possibility, I noticed the light becoming larger and stronger, and as the first part of the moon peaked its beaming beacon into sight, it was then I marveled at what I was witnessing, the time for the fullish moon to take its place in the sky as light of the darkness.

 And after forty of the would be two hundred ten minutes we celebrated the Easter Vigil. I was not moved by hearing how God created the world in seven days, although the timing of night and day, and moon was spooky, but rather on accompanying the moon on its path across the night sky.

 We had already blessed the fire from the bonfire, created about five blocks north of the church, and as we processed by candlelight to the first altar where we read the creation story and sang a psalm I wondered what others of similar faith were doing to celebrate God’s Love. The second altar brought the story of Abraham and willingness to sacrifice Isaac, his only son. The third story reminded us of the plight of Moses and God’s involvement at the Red Sea. We walked to the fourth altar where marriage and unity were discussed, although I was more focused on blessing water, the fifth station, where I would be reading from Isaiah about God’s promises.

We finished the sixth and seventh reading on the way back to the church, and by that point I encountered my borrowed guitar, tuned it and caught up with Tyler and Luis.

 We entered the dark church and celebrated a beautiful liturgy. With guitars playing, voices singing, and people praising we shared the paschal mystery with Talanga. It was a lovely three and a half hours full of sanctity and grace, and a nice big moon.