Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 19, 2025

Holy Saturday – Easter Vigil

Scripture Text: Romans 6:3-11

Brothers and sisters:

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Tonight, as we celebrate Easter Vigil, the Epistle to be read is from Paul’s Letter to the Romans. In this text, Paul teaches that as baptized Christians we share in Christ’s death and resurrection. Through His death, we were given access to salvation from sin and through His resurrection, we were given access to life with Him.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

As Easter draws near, am I closer to living for God through my discipleship?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, as we consider our Lenten journey and your great love for us shown most profoundly and perfectly in the love of your beloved Son for us and His sacrifice for our redemption, help us to take forward with us a Spirit filled resolve to live for You in Christ Jesus. Send your Spirit to give us the fortitude we need to live our lives daily as the daughters and sons You created us to be and the disciples your Son calls us to be. Help us to always take with us this awareness of your love. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.