Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full Moon that occurs on or just after the spring equinox. Playing out that formula for 2021: the spring equinox occurred on Saturday, March 20. The first full Moon to occur after that date rose on Sunday, March 28. Therefore, Easter will be observed on the subsequent Sunday, which is Sunday, April 4.
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| Photo by Juan Rodriguez |
There are millions of images of sunsets, Lord,
but not often enough do we see a moonset...
And the moon is so important this week
as by its light and phases we determine
when to celebrate your rising...
Easter:
the first Sunday
after the first full moon
after the spring equinox...
How fitting, Lord, that the heavens above
should set the date for us to celebrate
your rising from the dead...
The moon,
drawing its cool silver light
from the heat of the sun;
the moon,
waiting for springtime's turn
at equal night and day;
the moon,
full of Passover glory,
awaiting the Paschal Lamb...
In these early days of Holy Week,
shine your light, O God,
upon my faith, my prayer
and my waiting for your Son to rise again,
in my heart, in my soul and in the world
with the gift, the peace of everlasting life...
Protect me, Lord, with the moon's clear light
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake I might keep watch for you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
(Tonight you have a choice between two instrumental
settings of moonlight: a Celtic piece by von Ziegler and
the classical work by Debussy. Choose one or the other,
or both, as background for your prayer as we wait for
the paschal Moon to shine on our Easter joy...)
Moonsong by Adrian von Ziegler
Clair de Lune by Debussy, performed on Rousseau
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