Easter Vigil (2025) - Fr Paul Rowse, OP

Alleluia, the Lord is risen; he is truly risen, alleluia!

May he who took on our death take you deeper into the mystery of his life, so that this mortal existence of yours will become a joyful foretaste of the life to come, alleluia!

The Lord has taken something from us this night.  He has taken our darkness and given us his light instead.  So, although it’s nighttime now, and will yet be when we finish, the light all around and within us might let us forget the time of day.  For the light which shines comes from him in whom there is no shadow of darkness.

Once there was darkness all around us; it was inescapable.  In that darkness, for some there was confusion about the big questions of life.  Doubt rushes in when we cannot get our bearings.  There was hesitancy too in the darkness, hesitancy born of uncertainty and self-doubt.  And then there was the unremitting triad of temptation, sin, and death which seemed to take turns with us.  We began to wonder whether we are but prey.

But the Lord has taken darkness over, like a thief.  He didn’t remove the darkness; he entered it.  Strangely, he doesn’t altogether stop darkness from spreading, but he does join us in it.  Far from being a moment of meagre solidarity, all being caught in the mire together, the risen Lord has given us communion with him.  He, the sinless one, has joined himself to us this night.  The Lord Jesus has demonstrated that there is no place we can go or be sent where he has not already been.  And so, we are on our way: we too are rising in this night.

And so, he, the Light of the World, takes the darkness from us.  Instead of confusion and doubt, may there be consolation in the truth which he is.  Instead of hesitancy and sin, let him instil confident assurance of eternal life through forgiveness and communion.  These will soon be the gifts made to new Christians.  Their baptism and confirmation will infuse divine light into their lives, so that whatever comes they will shine forth.  Their first holy communion will brighten their mortal lives as a pledge of eternal light.

Like our beautiful church all lit up at night, each Christian soul now stands in the world with power and grace from above.  The darkness of the world continues as it must, but we are wedded to the light.

Glory be to him who has made heaven our home by rising from the dust of earth.

Glory be to him in the Church forever and ever.  Amen.  Alleluia!

Fr Paul Rowse, OP is the Parish Priest of Camberwell East, Victoria.