Homily for the Easter Vigil

 

All Seven Old Testament Readings

Rom 6:3-11

Lk 24:1-12

 

The liturgy speaks for itself in multiple ways.  The prayers, the readings, and the actions all have multiple meanings while simultaneously indicating the same truth.  The liturgy speaks for itself most eloquently on this most joyful night when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at the vigil Mass.  It announces this most glorious night in unequivocal terms with the magnificent Exsultet where we hear:

 

‘Hæc nox est,

in qua, destrúctis vínculis mortis,

Christus ab ínferis victor ascéndit.’

 

‘This is the night

when Christ broke the prison-bars of death

and rose victorious from the underworld.’

 

God's first words in the first verse of Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament are:  “Let there be light.”  Thus, we begin the vigil with light, blessing the fire and paschal candle that is carried into the church with the words,

 

Lumen Christi

Christ our Light. 

 

Each of us holds that  New Light as it is passed from worshipper to worshipper inside the church. 

 

From the Exsultet again.

 

‘Hæc nox est, de qua scriptum est:

Et nox sicut dies illuminábitur:

et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis.’

 

‘This is the night

that is as bright as day,

dazzling is the night

and full of gladness’

 

Then the water is blessed.  We will recall in ritual form the parting of the waters at the creation. We will recall the new life we were given in baptism, a recollection augmented by renewing our baptismal promises.

 

Luke’s Gospel is cinematic in its detail.  We know what the women were carrying. 

We know dawn was just breaking.  We can imagine the amazed looks on their faces when they saw that the stone had been rolled away. 

 

Insert yourself into that scene.  Stand with those amazed, frightened, and confused women.  Had the grave been robbed?  Where was Jesus?

Who were the men in dazzling garments? 

What would you have felt? 

What would you have thought? 

What would you have said?

 

With the final blessing a continuous liturgy of more than fifty hours comes to an end. We go forth to rejoice in the resurrection of  Christ our Lord

 

The formula intoned while the paschal candle is being inscribed at the beginning of Mass explains everything about this night and about our ffaith.

 

"Christ

yesterday and today

the beginning and the end.

Alpha and Omega;

all time belongs to him,

and all the ages;

to him be glory and power,

through every age for ever."

 

We can only add:

 

Thanks be to God.

Alleluia.  Alleluia.  Alleluia.

 

 

Fr. Jack, SJ, MD