This is a strange day in the prayer-life of the Church: we place ourselves at the tomb of Christ, mourning with His death on the cross and awaiting His glorious resurrection. Tonight's vigil of prayer and celebration, in its many sripture readings, present us with the whole story of our redemption. Starting from creation itself, we're reminded of how God's power is at work in His world and His people, through the history of human sinfulness and God's promise of life and grace. And then we hear the Easter gospel proclamation, that the man from Nazareth who was crucified "has risen, he is not here", and His friends being told "you must go and tell His disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee." This night is a baptismal occasion, which should help us recall our own baptism and its meaning, especially its connection with the dying and rising of Christ. We have died to sinfulness, selfishness and division, to everything that separates us from God and each other; and we have gone down into the tomb with Him. And with Him, in Him, we've entered a new life, become members of each other in Christ. God's power has changed us, saved us, through Jesus' passing from death to life. We are Easter people, and it's our turn now to go and tell others this great good news, that Jesus goes before us in our lives, leading the way and waiting for us to come to Him.