The Easter Vigil is a liturgy of great drama: darkness and light, silence and song. And the great drama has plenty of dialogue. There are 17 readings, if you include the responsorial psalms.

For the many candidates and catechumens entering the Church this Easter, these readings may seem like doors into the great cathedral. Some of you may enter through the door of the first reading: the glory of God’s creation. Some through the second: an undeniable awareness of our sin and our need for a Redeemer. Some enter through Isaiah 54, God’s promise of tenderness and freedom for His lost children, or through the Gospel reading—an earthquake, an angel, the astonishment of the Resurrection, a joy that overwhelms all fear.

Building Catholic Futures often emphasizes that there is no one best “gay story” or poster child for gay Catholics. Frameworks like our Four Lenses help people articulate the diversity of the spiritual needs of LGBT/SSA+ believers and seekers. Queer people enter the Church through all of the doors!

But there is even more to say than that. Each of these readings is a doorway—and a stained-glass window. The readings illuminate one another; they reveal one another’s deeper meanings. We enter the great cathedral of the Church through one doorway. But once inside, we need the mingled light and color from every window to illuminate our lives: to help us face new challenges and discover new delights in God’s presence.

Our first understanding of the Faith—whether we receive it first as children, or as adult converts—is always partial. If it is to grow into a faith that can sustain us, it will need new perspectives: new light, from all the windows. In BCF’s language, we need all the Lenses to see the fullness of truth and love!

This Easter, we rejoice with all those entering the Church.

We pray for all friends of BCF who are celebrating the anniversary of their own baptism (happy birthday!) or confirmation.

We pray for all friends of BCF who lead OCIA and those who are sponsoring catechumens and candidates.

And we pray that the Light of Christ we share this Easter will grow in our hearts.

This is the beginning, not the end. The Church is much bigger on the inside!