Easter Vigil
Year C

Journey from the Cross to the Empty Tomb

Based on the Gospel: Luke 24:1-12 

The forty days of Lent have been for us a spiritual journey.  That journey has taken us from the plain, to the wilderness, to the mountaintop, to the foot of the cross.  It has opened up for us the mystery at the heart of our faith.  Tonight we complete our journey. 

Our service began with the experience of physical darkness.  Darkness helps us to recall the darkness of our condition before redemption.  When it is dark, we cannot see our way clearly.  It is difficult to distinguish the words on the page.  We may stumble.  We cannot distinguish clearly the features of others.  How like our human condition!  Darkness speaks to us of all that prevents us from being fully alive. 

Then we light the new fire.  In the firelight, we begin to see more clearly.  We are able to walk more easily and confidently.  We begin to recognize the features of those around us.  We are warmed by the glow of the fire.  Physical light allows us to understand the meaning of the risen Christ for us. 

Then we begin to pass the light of Christ to each other.  Others accept the light that we offer.  We share the light that we have received.  Light spreads through the community.  In the giving and receiving of light, we communicate our commitment to spreading the light of Christ to the world. 

Our vigil begins with the story of the Exodus of the people of Israel.  That great pilgrimage was their journey, which fulfilled the promises of God.  The Exsultet, a glorious hymn of praise, proclaims the promise of salvation to each of us, and its fulfillment on this holy night.  The Gloria rings out its song of praise accompanied by the joyful ringing of bells.  After the long silence of Lent, we hear once again the joyous shout of acclamation as we sing "alleluia", that ancient pilgrim song of the early Christians.  It assures us of the victory of Jesus Christ over the powers of evil. 

Through symbol, the vigil tells us that creation has been entirely renewed.  The fallen is restored.  Humanity is renewed in Jesus Christ the source of our light and life.  The Gospel brings together the pre and post Easter experience of the disciples.  The women go to the tomb to see how Jesus' body is laid.  They prepare the spices and ointments for his burial.  What turmoil is going on within them?  So much has happened since they came from Galilee with Jesus.  They remember the excitement of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Could it be such a short time ago?  How exciting it had been to be in that throng, jostling, joyfully waving palm branches, cheering Jesus on.  They had not in any way guessed the outcome.  For just as suddenly as the crowd had appeared to wave him on so, they turned against him.  The days that followed would always remain a blur.  Now he was dead, brutally murdered.  His followers felt the terrible emptiness that invariably follows the death of a loved one.  The hope they had once felt, was gone. 

After the Sabbath, they made their way back to the tomb with the spices they had prepared.  But when they arrived at the tomb, to their surprise the stone was rolled away from the entrance.  As they entered the tomb, they realized that the body was missing.  Their purpose in being there was gone.  As they stood there perplexed, wondering what to do next, they were asked an important question.  "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" 

In the emptiness of the tomb, they encountered the risen Lord.  There was no need to see him.  They remembered.  They remembered what Jesus had told them; that he would be crucified, and on the third day he would rise again.  In remembering, they experienced the joy of the resurrection.  In that encounter, their fears and perplexity were gone.  They became messengers for the risen Lord.  They left immediately to tell the eleven of their experience. 

The empty tomb is a symbol to each of us that Christ's resurrection is much more than mere survival.  In the resurrection, death has been vanquished.  Our destiny is opened up beyond death and the grave.  We are able to proclaim:  "He is risen!  Alleluia!"  The Jesus who lived and walked and taught on earth is not in the tomb.  He is not to be sought in the far distant past.  His saving work is a present reality in the community of believers. 

Where do we encounter the risen Lord?  How do we show in our lives that we serve a risen Saviour?  What is happening in our lives because we believe?  The world expected that the death of Jesus would mean the end of Christianity.  But the once defeated and disillusioned disciples became people alive with joy.  They became messengers ready to proclaim their faith. 

We come together in faith this evening to bring Brendan into the body of Christ through baptism.  His parents and sponsors take a faith step for him.  All of us renew our baptismal covenant.  God's Spirit moves us to faith in the resurrection.  We like the holy women at the tomb, discover that Christ is alive in us, through us, and forever.  We are able to proclaim:  "The Lord is risen! Alleluia!  He is risen indeed! Alleluia!"