In the early 1970s, a research project at Xerox – the “Alto,” a computer that used the first Graphical User Interface, or GUI (“gooey”) – introduced the computer icon. The Alto had icons for documents, folders, computers, and people.
Apple Computer, released the “Lisa” computer in 1983, and the “Macintosh” computer in 1984. The latter used icons created by noted artist Susan Kare, who also designed the icons for Windows 3.1 … and the rest is history.
We have just – perhaps for the first time in a long time – read through ALL 7 Old Testament readings, the Epistle reading, and the Gospel for Easter Vigil.
Congratulations!
The readings take us down a path of images, tests, promises, and redemptions … covering somewhere between 5 and 10 thousand years.
We heard first, the creation account from Genesis. God creates in pairs:
Heavens and Earth,(Waters) Above and Below, andLand and Sea.
He then fills them with
Sun, Moon, and Stars;Flying and Sea creatures; andLand Animals and Humans.
Three days to create space, and three days to fill those spaces.
God’s crowning achievement is the creation of humanity. The one and only creation of His that is made in His “image and likeness.”
We then heard of the test of Abraham, sometimes called the “Binding of Isaac.”
In this account: (1) the father has a plan, (2) the son bears the burden, and (3) God provides the sacrifice. Sort of like what we heard yesterday. Although, yesterday, the Father was God, not Abraham; and the son was Jesus Christ, not Isaac.
The first story served as an “image” of the second.
And … the site of the first story, Mount Moriah, was the eventual site of the Temple of Jerusalem, which was an “image” of Paradise, the Garden of Eden.
We then heard of the Liberation of Israel from Egypt … an “image” of their freedom from sin, and our own freedom from sin and death.
We heard the back-to-back readings from Isaiah – the Restoration of Israel and the Inclusion of the Gentiles. Then a lyric poem to God’s Wisdom, and the Regeneration of God’s people … a cleansing from sin.
After the Glory to God, and the lighting of the altar candles, we heard St. Paul tell us, in his letter to the Romans, about the effects of Baptism.
And, with the restoration of the Alleluia – for the first time in 40-some days – we heard how the women were “utterly amazed” at the three surprises they beheld: (1) the stone door of the Tomb was rolled away, (2) two angels were waiting to give them a message, and (3) the message of the angels – “Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified … has been raised.”
Images … Restoration, Regeneration, Resurrection.
The image of our first parents in the likeness of God … has been restored.
Sin no longer has any hold over us.
We have been “crucified … and died with Christ” … and “death no longer has any power over” us.
It looks like we’ve made it … through Lent of 2021 … and have made it to Easter.
Christ has risen! Alleluia, alleluia! Indeed he has risen! Alleluia, alleluia!
