The Power of One Candle: Easter Vigil

The liturgies of the Holy Week are full of meaning. They try to focus our attention on the historical events of that first Holy Week, the Holy Week of Jesus, almost two thousand years ago. Tonight’s Vigil is no exception.

The tabernacle is empty, as Jesus’ tomb was empty when the women arrived to anoint His body (cf. Luke 24:1-3). We have been hearing of his resurrection from the start, but, like the women, we have not seen Him yet. The women heard the announcement of the resurrection from angels: we have heard the angelic Easter proclamation. The Apostles heard the announcement from the women and from the disciples of Emmaus: we have heard men and women reading the word of God. Jesus Himself explained the Scriptures to the disciples of Emmaus: we have heard Jesus’ Gospel but, like those disciples, perhaps we have not yet recognized Jesus alive among us (cf. Luke 24:13-35).

1.  The first part of the Vigil is the liturgy of the light: the proclamation of Jesus’ victory in His Resurrection dispels the darkness of the night. The second part of the Easter Vigil is the reading and explanation of the Scriptures: like the disciples of Emmaus, we hear the confirmation of Jesus’ resurrection from the Scriptures and receive their explanation from Jesus Himself, but do not yet see Jesus. Now, when Jesus rose from the dead, as we read in the Gospel of Matthew, many who were in the tombs rose from the dead and appear in the city of Jerusalem (cf. Matthew 27:52-53): on this blessed night, at the third part of this vigil, catechumens all over the world rise from the tomb of original sin and appear with new life in the Church, the new Jerusalem.

We have heard the announcement, we hear now the explanation of the Scriptures, we will see the dead rising to new life in Christ but we do not see Jesus yet.... until the moment in which, like the disciples of Emmaus, we will “recognize him in the breaking of the bread.” In the fourth part of the Easter Liturgy, which is the liturgy of the Eucharist, the risen Jesus becomes present among us. He is seen “in another form,” (Mark 16:12, cf. Luke 24:16) as when He appeared to the disciples of Emmaus. He appears “when the doors are locked,” (cf. John 20:19) as when He appeared to the Apostles on Sunday evening. To the disciples of Emmaus, the risen Jesus appeared under the resemblance of another man: tonight, He appears to us under the appearances of bread and wine. To the Apostles, the risen Jesus appeared, not through the door, but in their midst, when the doors where locked: tonight, He also appears in our midst, in the breaking of the bread.

2.  Outside is night, as it is in the world: but we bring the dawn in our hearts, because with Jesus’ resurrection the hope of eternal life is born. It is spring in the world, but more so in our hearts: because the seed Jesus has planted is blossoming already, and the fire of this candle will be spread throughout the world by faithful hands. The world is cold and you have only a candle: but if your light comes from the Easter candle, you can set human hearts on fire. The fire of love: a fire consuming sin, not buildings; a fire against oppression, a fire kindling hearts in love for the poor and the disadvantage, a fire illuminating minds with the light of true faith and true hope, a fire of love kindling that same love in your neighbor.

Dear candidates, dear brothers and sisters: Jesus is truly risen. He has truly overcome sin and death, He has given us hope of eternal life, but the world does not know it. I am not telling you to simply let them know. They will not believe you unless they see you risen, unless they see that Jesus has overcome sin and corruption in your life, unless they see that your own life shines with the hope of eternal life. The world is dead: only if you are risen with Jesus you can raise them up. The world is cold: only the fire of your love and the light of your hope can warm them up.

3.  Some of you may already be on fire for Jesus. I don’t have to tell you what to do, because your warmth and light are already spreading, sometimes without you even noticing it. But some of you may think that your fire is just the fire of a candle, and you are afraid that the world will blow it off in an instant. -If this is so, remember that even a cigarette can consume a forest. -What you have is already precious: some people are starving for the little bit you have. Share! Remember that when you share the light of a candle you do not lose anything of your own light: faith and love are multiplied by sharing it. -Feed the fire of your candle with wood, so that it grows: the wood of the cross increases our love, both when we meditate often on the passion of Jesus and when we carry our own crosses faithfully. -Protect your candle: do not expose yourself unnecessarily to circumstances, people or places which may endanger your faith. -Candles look good in church: do not abandon your church, do not forget the sacrament of reconciliation when your candle goes off, do not forget the sacrament of the Eucharist. In the end, the fire of love is best kindled with the Bread from Heaven.

The people who saw Jesus risen transformed the world. With Jesus, we can do the same. May we never lose hope. We ourselves can be transformed. We can truly make a difference around us. With God, nothing is impossible. May the joy of the resurrection give us back the joy of hope.