Easter Vigil: miracles in our midst

Here is the text of the reflection I shared with those who gathered to take part in the Easter Vigil, the evening liturgy that has been called the Mother of all Vigils.

Miracles in our midst

This is a night of miracles.  We who are gathered here are witnesses to great and wonderful things, miraculous happenings, and each of these miracles is a moment of grace and blessing for us as we witness our God at work.

Tonight we have recalled some of the greatest moments in our history: the moment at which our God created us and provided everything that we would need to survive and to thrive (Gn 1:1-2:2); the promise that God made to Abraham as a reward for his faith and trust (Gn 22:1-18); the journey of our ancestors in faith as they made their way through the sea and into the promised land (Ex 14:15-15:20); the promise that no matter what we may have done to tarnish the relationship with God, He is always willing to sprinkle clean water upon us (cf Ez 36:16-28); and the greatest moment of all: the discovery of the empty tomb which was the summit of our journey in faith (Mt 28:1-10).

What the women encountered when they arrived at the tomb surprised them and filled them both with fear and with great joy.  Even today, the miracle of the Resurrection fills our hearts with surprise and joy ... and this is something wonderful!

Human reason easily understands many things, but human reason is powerless to comprehend the miracle that we are celebrating tonight.  The words of the angel ring out across time to speak to our hearts as they did to the women at the tomb: Do not be afraid ... you are looking for Jesus who was crucified ... he is not here.  He has been raised from the dead (Mt 28:5-7).

We might be tempted to think that the joy the women encountered that morning was a gift meant especially for them and not for anyone else, but Jesus rose once for all of us.  This is the reason why we celebrate Easter every year.  The joy with which he surprised the women is also offered to us today, for we have all been baptized into Christ Jesus (Rom 6:3) and therefore, just as Christ was raised from the dead, ... so we too can look forward to the day when we will walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:4).

This is the good news that we celebrate tonight, the wonderful joyous news of Easter that we have to share: Jesus Christ is no longer here; he has been raised from the dead (Mt 28:5-6).  Alleluia!