Easter Vigil - The Light of Christ

 

"The light shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it".

From the blessed fire, the Easter Candle is lit, which represents Jesus Christ, coming out of the tomb, who overcomes the world of darkness. During this Most Holy of Nights, praise is sung to the Redeemer, who from the darkness has led us into God's marvelous light.

As the Church was immersed in darkness, the first symbolic act of the solemn Easter vigil: the priest carries the candle; the symbol of Christ the light of the world.

As the Easter Candle is processed into the Church, the priest proclaims, “The Light of Christ” and everyone responds, “Thanks be to God”, as we thank God for the Resurrection of Jesus, the light of the world, who overcomes the darkness of sin, and opens wide the gate to eternal life.

From the flame of the Easter Candle, each candle is lit until the church is filled with light. And when the lights of Church are turned on, it represents the light of Christ bursting forth throughout the whole world, as the risen Christ overcomes the darkness of sin.

This night is the most blessed of all as we heard in the Exultet, the Easter Proclamation. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is life beyond the grave.

At Easter, symbols give way to reality: "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” During the Vigil, the symbol of light is linked to that of water, and reminds us, that we are all born again, of water and the Holy Spirit, in order to share in the new life revealed by Christ's Resurrection.

On this night, the night of Easter—according to the Holy Scriptures, and beyond any human expectation—the light overcomes the darkness of sin, death and the world.

We heard in the readings an account of the creation of man and woman (first reading) and the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt (third reading). This was in God’s plan for mankind, but the high point in God’s plan for us was the resurrection. This is the greatest celebration of the Church.

During many Easter Vigils, catechumens (the non-baptized) are baptized. Baptism means "immersion", as one is "immersed" in the mystery of God's love, which gushes forth from the pierced heart of the Crucified One. From Jesus flows living water. It is the water which gives life to the soul, through baptism. As blood and water gushed from the Heart of Jesus pierced on the Cross, so through baptism we receive life giving water, which washes away sin and gives us new life within the Blessed Trinity, as we share in God’s life through baptism. At baptism our soul becomes totally pure without sin and all punishment due to our sin is washed away. Did you know our soul can be like it once was at baptism? But this happens only once a year, on Divine Mercy Sunday. Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. And if we have gone to confession during Lent, and if we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, God in His infinite mercy, will not only forgive our sins, but will make our soul like it was at baptism, such that all punishment due to our sins is also completely forgiven. If we were to die immediately after receiving Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, we will go straight to heaven.

Tonight, rejoice, as sin is rolled away by baptism, and the Risen Christ will come to dwell within your Heart in Holy Communion. Behold out of tomb, He comes, and stands before you, in the little Host within the hands of the priest, and says, “Peace be with you! It is I, Do not be Afraid”.

From the Sacred Host, Jesus speaks to our heart saying, “I come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” I come to give you every grace necessary to endure the struggles of everyday life. I come, to give you my love! I come, so that together, we may share a personal and intimate union, which is a foretaste of the communion, which will be ours in heaven. I am always with you. I am always at your side. You are never alone.

The Eucharist is truly the Risen Jesus. The same Jesus, who came forth from the tomb, will come here today in the Eucharist on the altar. And at Holy Communion, as the priest holds the Host in his hands, and says, “The body of Christ”, the living Risen Body of Christ, will stand before you.

Here in the Eucharist is Jesus. Here in the Eucharist is love. Here in the Eucharist is the light of the world. Here in the Eucharist is the one, whom we love, and the one, whom loves us. Here is the one whom, we have been searching. He longs to wipe away our tears of sorrow and give us His love.

Jesus is here at Mass and wants to help us in our daily life’s difficulties. He wants to console us when we suffer the agony of difficult situations.

If we long to be with Jesus, if we long to be with the one, who infinitely loves us, nothing will keep us from attending Mass every Sunday to be with Him. Nothing will keep us from receiving the risen Jesus in Holy Communion and we will come to daily Mass during the week when we are able. Nothing will keep us from Jesus, who stays here in the church hidden in the tabernacle. In the tabernacle, throughout the day, Jesus is all alone and desires that someone, anyone come to be with Him, so that He His joy may be our joy and our joy may be complete. For He is our joy. He is our peace! He is our hope. He is not going ahead of us to Galilee. Rather, He is about to come within our very own heart, and say to us, “Peace be with You! It is I, Do not be afraid!”

Tonight, when we come forward to receive the Jesus in Holy Communion, let us bend down to look into the tomb of our heart. Truly we will discover the risen Jesus is with us and loves us. And we will cry out, “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia. Alleluia.”