In some Christian traditions the Easter Vigil on Easter Saturday is an important celebration. While in the early centuries the Easter Vigil was really a waiting for the dawn on Easter Sunday, when the resurrection was celebrated, over the centuries the celebration moved to earlier in the night. I myself have only participated in the Easter Vigil three times. While I consider an early morning service somehow more reflective of Easter, when either we await the first light or come to the empty tomb in the morning, I did appreciate aspects of the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Vigil begins quite subdued with little ornamentation in the Church and either no music at all or only quiet music. At some point in the liturgy that drastically changes: the organ plays triumphant music, the bells are rung, altar clothes and other ornamentation are hung in the Church, the candles are lit. I heard this as being referred to as “all heaven breaking loose”. It is a phrase that I think goes beyond the celebration. It reflects what happened at Easter. After the powers of this world had done the worst they could do to Jesus by torturing him and killing him, after the struggle between life and death, all heaven broke loose and conquered death. It turned the apparent defeat of the cross into a victory. It brought life and light, joy and hope.

In our current dark world heaven breaks in continuously, and even more powerfully since that Easter Day, when Jesus overcame sin, death and oppression. But while this world continues in its current form, it is still steeped in corruption and sin. As Christians we are looking forward to the day when all heaven will break loose and continue Christ’s victory. In the meantime, we can rejoice whenever heaven breaks in, when God’s love becomes palpable, when joy indescribable surrounds us, when beauty and goodness surround us.