Our Easter Vigil Mass tonight is the highlight of our liturgical year. Catholics throughout the world gather together to celebrate this most holy night, in union with our Lord and with all of their brothers and sisters in Christ. We welcome our new members into the Catholic Church during this Mass, with some receiving the sacraments of baptism, first communion, and confirmation, as we feel a great sense spiritual solidarity with them, a sense of love and gratitude. We pray for them and with them as they receive these sacraments and as they consecrate their lives to Jesus Christ. Tonight, we are called to participate in a very holy and unifying experience tonight in our Easter Vigil Mass.
The Easter Vigil Mass always takes place in the midst of the darkness of night. The light of Christ has gone out of the world with his death on the cross on Good Friday. It will remain in darkness until the Easter fire is started, symbolizing Christ as the light of the world who rise from the tomb dispelling the darkness of the world. Tonight, we celebrate Christ as the source of love, light, and goodness.
In our first reading tonight from Exodus, God parts the Red Sea and leads his people out of the bondage of slavery and sin. God liberates the Jewish people in order for them to be able to live with him in holiness and unity. God liberates all of us who have been baptized in Christ. In the life giving Easter waters that we will bless tonight and that will be used in our baptisms throughout the Easter season, Jesus leads us out of sin and into our new life with him.
In our reading from the prophet Baruch, we hear how God calls his people and when they answer with understanding “here we are!”, they will shine with great joy for their creator. Those who will enter our Church this evening through our RCIA program have answered God’s call. They are coming forward tonight to acknowledge him. We celebrate with all those children and adults who are receiving the sacraments tonight. As I was reflecting upon my own RCIA experience and coming into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass while I was writing this homily, I realized that this Easter Vigil marks 25 years since I came into the Church, a moment that forever changed my life, for if I had not done that, I would not be standing here with all of you as your pastor in this Mass. The Holy Spirit will come upon those receiving the Sacraments in a special way this evening, filling us with the joy of the risen Christ.
“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here for he has been raised just as he said.” These are the words we hear the angel proclaim to the women as they discover the empty tomb. Without that empty tomb, without the resurrection, the birth, life, and resurrection of Jesus would have no meaning. Without that, he would not be the son of the living God. Christ breaks through the barriers of our doubts and our fear of death as he is raised from the dead on Easter morning. Death does not the final say. Through the Easter mysteries that cry out to us to night, we are to believe that he died for the forgiveness of our sins and rose to life so they we might have eternal life with him. Tonight, in the darkness of night, Christ is the life of the world. Christ is the light of the human race. Christ is our Easter joy.
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