Finding light in the darkness

For the first service of Easter in the Catholic Church we are instructed the Easter Vigil should begin in the darkness of night. You might wonder, “Why not at sunrise for there is much to suggest that sunrise would be the best for the celebration of Easter?” But a deeper truth is at work here. We begin the Easter Vigil service outside the church, in the dark.

In every age there are events that cause us to feel that darkness is surrounding us and certainly today with wars erupting around the world, natural disasters and the ongoing effects of COVID we may even feel that the darkness might just overwhelm us. This darkness can seem so dark that it feels impossible to dispel. But the wonderful power of light is that no matter how dark it is, the smallest candle has the power to overcome the darkness. We are an Easter people. We are children of the light. We embrace the light of Christ, and it dispels the darkness of our lives and frees us to live as people of hope, faith and charity.

On Holy Saturday night we stand in the darkness unafraid and light a fire from which the Easter candle is lit and then process into a darkened church lit only by the light of this candle. We proclaim “Christ our light.” In this profound ancient Christian practice, we proclaim the truth that in a world dark with sin, the light of Christ bursts forth in his resurrection. In the historic moment of Christ’s resurrection, light conquered the darkness of sin, redemption was accomplished, the eternity of our lives revealed and hope was restored.

Believing in Christ’s resurrection we become people of hope able to face the darkness of the crucifixion because the hope of the resurrection is still greater. It is, in fact, so great that the cross of Jesus, his very death, is now a sign of hope. Our hope in Christ is not that everything will work out as we want but rather that in the face of any difficulty, even death, the Lord will show us a new way so wonderful that even our difficulty becomes a witness of the power of his redeeming love.

Believing in Christ’s resurrection we become people of faith who navigate our lives in challenging times with the Catholic moral and ethical beliefs of our faith. Unfortunately, in hard times we are tempted to cut corners or rationalize our moral integrity. So we steal a little, cheat, even lie because we are afraid and believe that it is the only way to get through difficult times. NO! In times of crisis and in difficult times we need all the more to trust in the way of the Lord and act as true disciples who believe that Jesus is the “Way the Truth and the Life.” 

Believing in Christ’s resurrection we become people of charity. In hard times we tend to take care of ourselves because we are afraid we do not have enough. The antidote to our fear is to reach beyond ourselves to help others even when we need help. One of the great healings in charity is that we break out of our small world of worry and in helping others find new purpose. Our love creates a light that dispels the darkness in our lives and in the lives of others.

St. Teresa of Calcutta reminds us, “Never let anything so fill you with sorrow that you forget the power of the risen Christ.” So do not be overcome by the darkness. Light has conquered the darkness. Christ is risen!  He is Risen indeed!

Rejoice all creation!

Jesus Christ, our King is Risen!

Sound the trumpet
of salvation!

Christ has conquered!

Glory fills you!

Darkness vanishes forever!

(from the Easter Vigil)