At the beginning of every Easter Vigil, we are plunged into darkness. The darkness seems overwhelming. But soon, the darkness is defeated by the light of candles. Starting with one candle, the Paschal candle, the church is slowly illuminated by a sea of candles. Jesus is that single candle that gave the world a new vision and a new hope. Jesus reminds us that we no longer need be slaves of the darkness and that we no longer need be afraid of the dark. Jesus, the Light of the World, has come and defeated the darkness of sin and death.
In the readings, we begin with the creation story, where we see how God brings order to chaos. In our lives, we too may be experiencing chaos, but God brings order and harmony to our lives, if we submit ourselves to him. We then see how God leads His people from slavery in Egypt to freedom. We are reminded of how we too have passed through the waters of liberation through the waters of baptism. We have been set free from the power of sin, and are no longer slaves to sin unless we choose to remain as slaves. Some think that they are powerless when faced with their sinfulness, but God reminds us that we are no longer slaves. We are free because Christ’s resurrection has set us free. So, shouldn’t we begin to live as free men and women?
In every Easter Vigil, we are also reminded that death is not the end of life but the beginning of eternal life. Jesus has risen and has conquered death. Through Jesus we too can conquer death. Death no longer has a hold on us and we do not have to be afraid of death any longer. We are an Easter People and we should proclaim this great message of hope and joy. The light has overcome the darkness; order has overtaken chaos; freedom has triumphed over slavery; and eternal life is victorious over death. Let us no longer live lives as if there is no hope, since our hope is in the risen Lord, and let us share this message that “The Lord is risen” to all around us.