VIGIL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

We have spent the whole day in prayer and silence as we contemplate the reality of Our Lord’s crucifixion and death. Tonight, we are full of joy because the tomb is empty.

The readings trace salvation history from creation and fall to the fulfilment of the divine plan of salvation that we celebrate tonight. We are joyful because our Lord has risen. The tomb is empty and the women who went there to mourn returned with the Good News that the one who died to save us has risen. He is alive. Just as he made them feel his presence, he is always with us.

We have participated in the service of Light which reminds us clearly that Light will always overcome darkness. May the light of Christ continue to drive away the darkness of sin and sickness from your homes!  We have also traced the history of Salvation: how God created the world and how he has been active in the history of humanity all in a bid to reaffirm and reassure us of his everlasting love. Even in times when man fell, God never gave up; he kept sending his prophets to give humanity the message of hope as we hear in the words of the prophet Ezekiel in the seventh reading where he speaks of the New Covenant: I shall pour clean water over you and you shall be cleansed…I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…You shall be my people and I will be your God.

Christ is the Paschal Lamb whose blood was shed to make this New Covenant possible. We are the people of this New Covenant: the people of the Lord, a holy nation, a people set apart to worship God in spirit and truth. Tonight, we shall remind ourselves of the Sacraments that make us people of the New Covenant since some of us shall receive the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist.

Through Baptism we are cleansed of original sin and born into the life of grace. We become part of the Body of Christ and can worship God in spirit and truth. Holy Eucharist is the food and drink of supernatural life. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life for we draw spiritual strength from the body and blood of Christ himself and we strengthen the bond of unity that joins us to the church and one another.

Dear friends in Christ, we are once again reminded of our baptismal promises. We are once more reminded to remain faithful to our Christian identity and calling in trying and difficult times because our perseverance will most certainly be rewarded. We are reminded that whenever we fall, we must pick ourselves up and continue in our struggle. We must note too that we cannot succeed by depending upon our strength alone. We must look up to Christ who alone can save us like Peter when he began to sink and cry out: “Save me, Lord, lest I perish!” Save us Lord from habitual sins and the company of bad friends. Save us Lord from despair when nothing seems to work according to our plans. Save us Lord from the inability to forgive past hurts. Save us Lord from pride and the longing to exalt ourselves. Save us Lord from slavery to sin.

Christ’s resurrection gives meaning to our lives. We can face doubts and uncertainties because we know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is alive. Nothing should deprive us of this incomparable joy because on this night our Christian faith acquires its unique identity: by rising from the dead, Jesus gives us the guarantee of eternal life.

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