Easter Vigil - Resurrection of Jesus

 

This is the most blessed and most joyful night of the year as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Think about it, Jesus rose from the dead! Death is not the end. It is only the door to beyond. We do not want the resurrection of Jesus to have to fight for room in our lives; we pray Jesus’ death and resurrection will be the center of our lives.

We began our celebration tonight with a service of light, which symbolized Jesus rising from the dead, and bringing light to all of us. The light of Christ has shone in the world scattering darkness forever. We had been waiting for this moment for thousands of years.

We heard in the readings tonight 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 which is why tonight is the greatest celebration of the Church. This night is the most blessed of all as we heard in the Exsultet, the Easter Proclamation.

Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is life beyond the grave. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is more to each of us than meets the eye, that we have an immortal soul. We will live forever with God.

Think of the glorious future that awaits each of us. In the letter to the Romans which we heard tonight Paul wrote that we will imitate Christ in his resurrection. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Savior we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of His glorious body.”

Just think of it, your body will be transformed to become a glorious body like that of Jesus. Do we live like someone who believes in such a glorious future? When we do, everything in this world takes on a new perspective, so that we do not become possessed by our possessions. We cannot take our house, car, boat, pets, or money to heaven. We should use our possessions to help others, and if we have unnecessary items, we can give them away to others who need them. We should be detached from all our possessions. Ultimately, all that we have comes from God and belongs to Him. How can we use what He has entrusted to us, to help others, especially those in most need?

In heaven, all our desires will be full-filled. And since we are promised to be transfigured like the risen Jesus, it is natural to pray every day. It would be a contradiction to say that we believe in God but not pray. The reason we have so many problems is because we don’t pray enough. Pray, pray, pray. Personal prayer and praying the Rosary keeps us focused on Jesus.

“Our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Savior we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body.” John, in his first letter, says something similar, “My dear people, we are already children of God, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2) Our second reading at Mass tomorrow concludes, “But when Christ is revealed—and he is your life—you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.” (Col 3:4)

Let us us keep our heart and mind on Jesus, knowing He is risen. He is alive. He is with us. He loves us and wants to be part of everything we do.

And may the Virgin Mary, our Mother, who was the first to see Her Son after He rose from the dead, give us the same Easter joy She had when She saw Him, embraced Him, and spoke to Him after He had been crucified and buried. Mostly taken from Fr. Tommy Lane