MEDITATION/HOMILY FOR EASTER VIGIL MASS 30th March 2024

MEDITATION/HOMILY FOR EASTER VIGIL MASS 30th March 2024 

Romans 6:3-11; Ps.118; Mark 16:1-7

The Dawn of Victory!

Today we come to the point of victory, unprecedented and irrevocable victory. Today, the shame that was associated with following Jesus is taken away, never to return. Today, after death has struck its worst, it was overcome with everlasting life. Today, Jesus answers the question Pilate asked during his passion: “what is truth”, not with words but with the glory of the resurrection. The truth is that which has the capacity to bear all the humiliation and still proceed to glorification. Today, the humiliation of Christ that started since the incarnation is finally brought to an end with the glory of the resurrection. Today, hope is instituted, not as a wishful thinking but the endurance of a night that must come to an end.

Today, it has become crystal clear who is truly powerful and who is the weakling. The one who was called weak for not being able to save himself and prophesy who struck him, is rising from the grave by himself; while the ones who thought they were powerful, are ever more confuse. Today, a final full stop is put to the question of Jesus’ identity. Today, the world is taken by surprise – victory came when and how we least expected it. Today, hope is renewed. Today, we behold the gain of sacrifice and discipline. Today, we come to the end of the tunnel with irreproachable light. Today, we sign with relief with unquantifiable joy. Today, we realize that what God cannot defeat, does not exist. Today, we become the Easter people.

Ordinarily, the distance between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is three days. But the distance between our experiences of both may not be so short. It is not every suffering that leads to glory, but we can be very sure that if our suffering is of Good Friday (connected to the Cross), it will surely come to Easter Sunday (the glory of the resurrection). Let this encourage us to stay with the Lord no matter how though, challenging and hopeless things may seem. The truth is that nothing is actually hopeless for a Christian. The Christian him/herself may not perceive the hope, but the identity of Christ himself brings hope that far exceeds what the human mind can fathom. Whatever is Divine, even if it is delayed, it can never be denied.

The victory of the resurrection is ours, but we must not misunderstand this victory. Christ has brought us victory over pain and death; that does not mean that we will no longer experience pain and death but that in all our challenges, Christ is with us. Christ has won the battle over sin; that does not mean that we have been forgiven in advance for any sin we commit or that our sins no longer matter to God; it does not also mean that we can no longer sin because we have the power of Christ in us. Victory over sin assures us of Christ’s support in our battle against sin; it assures us of Christ forgiveness when we fall due to human frailty but take the bold step to rise. Christ’s victory over sin does not act without or contrary to our human effort. If we do not resolve to grow in holiness, we have invariably not resolved to activate the power over sin in us. Temptations will remain our personal and collective experiences; they will not come to an end. But we will overcome to the extent that we cooperate with the power of Christ. See, if our hatred for sin and our love for holiness have not appreciably increased, then we did not make the best of Lenten season.

Today’s celebration invites us to persevere in doing good. It takes more than a lot to do this. See, let no one and nothing deceive you; those who stand with God will never be mocked for all time. When and how the mockery will end may not be known by man but it has been clearly planned out by God. A time will come when you will thank God that you never gave up. Sometimes, the night has to be long for the celebration of the day to be great. In this matter, do not compare yourself with anyone. Your neighbours may not have worked hard as much as you do, yet they are very successful; be patient and tarry on. We are like actors/actresses in a movie. The movie will not be interesting if we all have the same role. Focus on your role; the night will surely come to an end. On this note, do not envy the prosperity of others; celebrate with them because congratulations is turn by turn. On the other hand, if it is your turn today, do not mock or think less of others because their turn will come too. Tomorrow is one thing that none of us can ever know.

Beloved, be ever more committed to all that gives you the Christian identity; it is the mark of our victory. Be proud of being a Christian. Be ready to defend your faith anytime and in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Never be threatened to choose the other side. The side of Christianity is the winning side. No matter the “hunger”, never sell your birthright for a piece of porridge. In all, know this: the path of Christ which is the way of the cross, is the path of true Christianity: from the cross to the grave and then the resurrection. A cross-less path is a crownless path; do not follow it. Congratulations, Jesus is alive for you!