We begin our celebration with a light service which symbolizes Jesus rising from the dead and bringing light to all of us. The light of Christ has shone in the world, scattering darkness forever.
We begin with the reading of the creation of man and woman and in the third reading the liberation of the Hebrews for Egypt. This was in God’s plan for mankind but the highpoint for God’s plan for us was the resurrection which is why tonight is one of the greatest celebrations. We will live forever with God. This night is the most blessed of all as we heard in the Exultet, the Easter Proclamation.
During the celebration of funeral masses, I would point to the Easter candle to remind the family of the significance of bringing the body to Church. We place the candle close to the coffin. It is the divine light that was covered by the clay of Christ’s body. When his side was pierced, water flowed. This is the same water in the vision of Ezekiel chapter 47 about the water flowing from the temple and as it flowed out it gave life to every living thing. His divine life and light have now flowed over into the Church through the sacraments.
Saint Paul reminds us in his epistle that we who have been baptized with Christ were baptized into his death. We are also buried with Him and just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might live a new life. In our baptism we are first given this light that will transform the clay of our body to the pot that He wants us to be as His chosen sons and daughters. We are to carry this light in our hearts, so our interior motives, will, and intellect will put on the mind of Christ or metanoia (i.e. transform). It is living the Christian faith intensely and with conviction in our life because Christ’s presence has touched every realm of our life and existence even in death.
In our confirmation we are called like the Kings of the Old Testament (2 Samuel 11); “during the springtime they go and wage war, but David did not go, leading him to sin with Bathsheba”. As we also enter our long-awaited springtime, we are called to go on the march, to carry our baptismal light forward to overcome the darkness of the world by bringing the news of the resurrection to the world. Not to live our baptismal calling and go on the march fulfilling our kingly office in spreading the Kingdom is not to fulfil our Christian responsibility. In our baptism the priest asked us what we want in the Church. We answered, “We ask for life in the Spirit, the new life, the life of the resurrection”. It is a life as Jesus commanded us, that is, to love God first and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
I want to conclude by recalling this year in which our Diocese has dedicated itself to the Eucharist, the family, Mary our mother, and for vocations in the Church. In the Eucharist is our love for God. Our fellowship with Christ is to spread and make known the love of God. Mary, our mother, was the first disciple who went to visit her cousin Elizabeth to bring her the good news fulfilling also her love of neighbor. And lastly, our identity in Christ gives meaning to our way of life. Just as John the Baptist leapt for joy, the Church will also find renewed joy this year if we keep the bishop’s intention as we live our own alleluia that Christ is risen.
Fr. Gaberiele (Gabby) Dulunaqio, MSC