Homily, Holy Saturday

Easter Vigil Readings: bible.usccb.org

Many of us have had the experience of keeping vigil when a family member or a close friend has died. We gather to share stories of how the deceased had an impact on our lives. Some of these stories are humorous and bring a smile to someone’s face. Others are profound and bring a tear to our cheeks. We gather to bring comfort and consolation to each other in this most painful of experiences.

Tonight, all over the world, the Church gathers together to keep solemn vigil. We are keeping watch, celebrating in the sacraments the triumph of Christ’s resurrection, while awaiting his glorious return. We gather together on this holiest of nights to share stories about our salvation history; to tell stories of creation, stories of rescue, and stories of escape from tyranny. God’s endless love for us, and his splendor surround us; and life-giving waters welcome us.

We gather together to bring love and support to those who have chosen to enter our family tonight. We affirm our faith with them and recommit to dispersing the darkness of this world with the Light of Christ that dwells within us. 

I warmly welcome you, our candidates for the sacraments of Initiation. We are happy you have made this journey. Jesus Christ has called each one of you personally by name. He shares the fruit of his sacrifice with you also. Let the grace of this night live on in your hearts and in your lives. Yes, life will return to relative normal soon enough, but it can never be quite the same, for now you are receiving a special gift from the Lord – an infusion of grace and a pledge of future glory. Cherish it always and walk always as children of the light. I thank the RCIA team and all those who have accompanied our candidates on this journey.

We also gather this night to celebrate with unbridled hope that the reality that death is not the end. In the Gospel tonight, Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices so that they might go [to the tomb of Jesus] and anoint him. They worry over how they are going to remove the giant boulder that guards the tomb. Much to their amazement, the tomb is wide open. They enter and have a chat with a nice young man who tells them not to be so amazed that the large stone has been rolled away because he has even more amazing news. He has been raised; He is not here! Imagine any funeral director telling us this when we arrived full of grief to keep vigil with someone we loved. We wouldn’t know how to react. The young man in today’s Gospel doesn’t give our two Marys time to react. Instead, he tells them to inform the disciples and Peter that Jesus is coming to them.

At the beginning of this Vigil, we proceeded into the dark Church with lit candles and spread that light to one another. If we are to be “The Light of Christ,” we must realize the urgency of our task at hand. There is no time to waste. We are to disperse the darkness around us. We are to be witnesses of the risen Christ in our midst. It begins in our homes and extends to all we encounter from friend to foe and neighbor to stranger.

May the Risen Lord inflame our hearts and raise our spirits so that we may journey towards his kingdom with undimmed hope. 

Happy Easter to you all. Alleluia Alleluia!