The Lighting of the Paschal Candle
Dear friends in Christ:
We have come together again to celebrate the occasion of great joy when our Lord passed from death to life. This is the Passover of our Lord. When the Jewish people were living in bondage under the Egyptians, the angel "passed over," bringing life and freedom to the enslaved people of Israel. Today is our passover—a passover from enslavement to death to life eternal. We honor our Lord's death and resurrection, confident that Jesus has called us to share in his victory and to live with him forever. We light this Paschal candle, which reminds us of the Lamb, the Lamb of God, the Easter Lamb. May his light shine eternally into our lives.
Father, we share in the light of your glory through your Son, the Eternal Light and Life of the world. Make this new fire holy, and enflame us with new hope. Strengthen us by the Easter celebration, and bring us all one day to the feast of your eternal light, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Amen.
Through the light of the Paschal candle, we proclaim Jesus Christ, the Eternal Light of the world. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. To him be all the glory and the praise!
May this light of Christ dispel the darkness in our lives and enflame us with new life, new faith, and new hope. Amen.
