HOMILY FOR HOLY SATURDAY/EASTER VIGIL: YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE STRENGTH OF THIS HOLY NIGHT!
BY: Fr. Casmir Nkamuke
Genesis 1-2:2, Psalm 104 Romans 6:3-11, Matthew 28:1-10
Beloved in the Lord, you are welcome to the holiest of all nights in the Church´s liturgy. Today, Christ´s victory over death transforms the terrific significance of the night into imageries of liberation and victory.
Earlier on, Satan´s possession of Judas had been negatively with the night imagery (John 13:27-30). In our daily lives, we are also faced with dark moments of hardship, despair, unemployment and other challenging situations. At such moments, things appear obscure and our situations hopeless and helpless. Thus, the first thing created by God as we have heard today is light to despair both physical and spiritual darkness from our society and our lives.
ALSO RECOMMENDED:HOMILY FOR HOLY SATURDAY/EASTER VIGIL
However, the Exultet which we sang at the beginning of the Mass uses the night imagery not as a symbol of fear and terror but as that of victory. We are reminded of the salvific events that have taken place at night in the history of the people of God. It is the night that the Israelites were saved from slavery. It is the night that the darkness of sin was destroyed. It is the night that Christians are washed from all defilement and restored to grace. It is the night that Christ broke the chains of death. For us Christians, it is indeed the night of our victory. The night that Christ was raised in glory. The terror of the night has been conquered. As with the Israelites, God guards us with a pillar of fire at night. Whatever keeps us in fear and terror has been conquered. With the light of Christ, all darkness is extinguished. Night is now as clear as day.
Beloved in the Lord, this night is unique and blessed. The strength of this holy night dispels all evil forces, cleanses us of the punishment due to our sin, restores us to our sanctifying grace, brings joy and happiness to the sorrowful, extinguishes hatred, brings us peace, and helps us to avoid being boastful and embrace humility. It is a night where heaven and earth are united in a holy marriage and man is once more reconciled to God. Indeed, this is the night that casts out hatred, humbles earthly pride and brings us peace.
This night we pray for all who operate in the night both literally and symbolically. We pray for hardened criminals. We pray for the perpetrators of crime. We pray persecutors of Christians. We pray for all who plot and execute evil in different places. May they know that darkness has been put to flight by the risen Lord of light. May God help them to have a change of heart, to turn from evil and turn to God. We pray also for peace and tranquillity in our society that is gradually turning into a symbolism for evil and darkness.
Christ is risen! With joy in our heart, we shout Alleluia. As children of light, may night never be dark for us! May the glory of this night dispel all darkness in our lives and illuminate us always with the salvific power of Christ.
Happy Easter!
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE>>>>