Pilgrims of Hope: Walking in the Light of the Resurrection

 Easter Vigil

On this most sacred night, we journey from darkness to light, celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory of life over death. As pilgrims of hope, we walk not alone, but with the Risen Christ lighting our path through the gift of the Paschal candle, the Word of God, and the waters of baptism. This Easter, let us choose to carry that light into the world—renewed in faith, strengthened by hope, and sent forth in joy.

Listen to homily here:

Easter Vigil Homily: Pilgrims of Hope

This evening, we are truly pilgrims of hope. Tonight is a night of joy and of radiant hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over the past three days, we have journeyed together through the sacred pilgrimage of the Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and now, at last, the celebration of Easter.

Yesterday, on Good Friday, we stood at Golgotha, the hill of crucifixion, commemorated within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There, we reflected on the meaning of Jesus’ death: His merciful intervention in the midst of our sin, and the truth that He never leaves us alone. This evening, in our hearts, we continue that pilgrimage. From the chapel of Calvary, we descend the worn stone steps of the Sepulchre, cross the church, and stoop to enter the small, ancient shrine known as the edicule—the very site where Jesus was laid in the tomb. That quiet, unassuming space is the place where we believe the Resurrection occurred.

Each year in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, a remarkable event unfolds at the edicule: a flame is said to emerge mysteriously from the tomb, and one by one, those present light their candles from it. The light spreads throughout the entire church, filling the space with the glow of the Resurrection. In our own celebration this evening, we began with the blessing of the new fire, kindled outside in the darkness. From it, the Paschal candle was lit—symbolizing the Risen Christ—and from that candle, our own tapers were lit. As each flame passed from one person to another, we witnessed a living image of how Christ’s Resurrection spreads light into every corner of the world.

That light will return again later in the Vigil, when our catechumens are baptized. They will receive a candle lit from the Paschal flame, just as we all did at our own baptisms. These candles remind us that our Christian life is a journey—a pilgrimage—lit by the light of Christ. Without it, we walk in darkness. As some of you experienced when entering the church this evening, it’s difficult to walk without light. But once the lights are lit, we can see clearly. So too in our faith: Christ illumines our path.

We heard tonight the long but beautiful series of readings that trace the history of salvation—our family story in the faith. Much like a beloved elder at a family gathering who recounts where we’ve come from and what we’ve been through, these readings remind us of who we are and whose we are. They tell us of God's enduring faithfulness, His constant guidance through creation, Exodus, covenant, exile, and finally the coming of His Son. These stories are not just ancient texts—they shape our identity and give us confidence for the road ahead. Because God has been faithful in the past, we know He will be with us in the future. That is what makes us pilgrims of hope.

St. Paul tells us in the epistle tonight that through baptism, we are buried with Christ so that we might walk in newness of life. This walking—this journeying—is the essence of Christian life. From the earliest days, as we see in the Acts of the Apostles, being a Christian was called “the Way.” It was—and is—a path. As Christians, we love the world deeply, but we also walk a distinct path within it, following Christ. Our choices, our relationships, our values—all are transformed because we carry the light of the Risen Christ.

We have just heard the Gospel: “He is not here. He is risen.” This announcement, made first to the women at the tomb, echoes across time to us tonight. And so, we must ask: Do we truly believe this? Do we believe that Christ died and rose again—and that we, too, will rise with Him? If we do, then it changes everything. It changes how we live, how we treat others, how we love. The belief in the Resurrection becomes the flame that lights every step of our journey.

We are called, then, to carry that light. To look not for the darkness in the world, but to seek out the light. To recognize God's blessings, to name them, to amplify them. And then to become light for others—to be hope and joy for those around us.

So tonight, whether you are receiving the light of Christ for the first time in baptism, or renewing the promises made long ago, let this incredible movement—from darkness to light, from death to life—leave a lasting imprint on your heart. Let us leave this church as pilgrims—but always, pilgrims of hope.

Making Our Cross a Crucifix

 Good Friday

On Good Friday, we stand before the cross not in despair, but as pilgrims of hope. Though the day is marked by suffering and silence, it is good because God chose to enter our broken world, confront sin, and redeem it through love. In Jesus, the innocent one who suffers for the guilty, the cycle of sin is interrupted and transformed. And through His death, we discover that we are never alone—not even in suffering or death—for Christ has made every cross a crucifix by sharing it with us.

Listen to homily here:

Good Friday Homily – Making Our Cross a Crucifix

Almost 1,700 years ago, the Emperor Constantine built what is perhaps the most famous church in all the world: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Construction began around the early 4th century, and although the building has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, it still stands today as the most central pilgrimage site for Christians of all traditions—Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic, and Ethiopian alike all stream to this sacred place.

When you enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, you pass through the main entrance and, to the right, ascend a steep flight of ancient stone stairs, worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims. At the top, there is a chapel. Pilgrims wait in line to approach an altar beneath which there is a small opening. Each pilgrim kneels and reaches through the opening to touch the rock below—a rock polished smooth by countless hands. That rock is believed to be the summit of Calvary, the place where Jesus was crucified.

This church was built around Calvary, the hill where the events we commemorate today—on Good Friday—took place. And today, as we continue our Triduum pilgrimage that began last night, we walk with Jesus to the cross. We hear His words, witness His actions, and ask ourselves: How should this change the way I think? How should this change the way I live?

This year, as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, we are invited to live the Triduum as pilgrims of hope. But at first glance, today doesn’t seem like a hopeful day. Put yourself in the shoes of Jesus’ followers. As we heard in the Passion according to John, Jesus is arrested, brought to trial, abandoned by His companions—including Peter, the very one chosen to lead. He is scourged, condemned, and crucified.

It is, in many ways, a dark day—a day of fear, of silence, of loss. The disciples were filled with hopelessness. How, then, can we find hope?

To begin with, we must be willing to pass through the darkness. Part of our pilgrimage with Christ means acknowledging the pain, fear, and hopelessness that His disciples felt. And it means recognizing the painful truth at the heart of Good Friday: sin has consequences.

From the earliest chapters of Genesis, we see this clearly. The story of Adam and Eve, followed by stories of jealousy, murder, greed, and lust, all reveal how sin spreads. Like a virus, sin begins small and then infects everything, bringing hurt and destruction in its wake. This is the cycle we all live in. We say things that wound others, who in turn may wound someone else. We are caught in this chain reaction of sin.

And yet, today is not called Bad Friday. It is Good Friday. Why?

Because in the midst of this brokenness, God chose not to leave us alone. In the face of sin, God sent His Son. Jesus died for our sins. As St. Paul tells us in one of the earliest creeds of the Christian faith—recounted in 1 Corinthians 15—“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”

The death of Jesus is God's response to sin. In a mysterious way, Jesus’ death brings an end to the cycle of sin and violence. The New Testament authors wrestled with how to express this mystery, and one of their key resources was the prophet Isaiah’s image of the Suffering Servant. This Servant, righteous and sinless, suffers not for His own wrongdoing, but for the sake of others. His suffering brings healing, even for those who caused it.

The early Christians recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. In Jesus, the sinless one absorbs the violence and hatred of the world and transforms it—offering mercy instead of retaliation, life instead of death. This is the foundation of our hope.

Good Friday also reminds us that whatever we are going through, Jesus is with us. Today is the culmination of the Incarnation—the mystery that God became one of us. We celebrate the Incarnation at Christmas, but it finds its fulfillment today. Jesus shares in our humanity not only in joy and love but in suffering, rejection, and death.

Death is something we all face—either through the loss of loved ones or in our own lives. It is something many fear. But Jesus does not leave us to face death alone. He enters into it with us. He walks with us to the very end.

Tomorrow, we will celebrate with joy the triumph of life over death. But even today, as we stand in the shadow of the cross, we are not without hope. We face the reality of sin and its consequences—but we do so knowing that God has entered into our suffering. Christ walks with us.

In a few moments, we will have the opportunity to venerate the cross. This is a deeply meaningful gesture. Each of us carries burdens, struggles, personal crosses. There’s a powerful phrase that captures what we do today: “Make your cross a crucifix.”

A cross is simply a burden. But a crucifix is a cross that Christ shares with us. When we make our cross a crucifix, we are not alone in our suffering. We invite Jesus into it. That is what we are invited to do today.

So let us come to the cross with hope. Let us offer Christ our pain, our struggles, and our fears. Let us remember that He suffered and died for us—so that we would never be alone.

Let us make our cross a crucifix. And let us be pilgrims of hope.

Holy Thursday - Pilgrims of Hope

Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, we begin a sacred pilgrimage with Jesus—from the Upper Room to the Cross and the empty tomb. The Eucharist, which we receive tonight, is not just a ritual but a powerful source of hope: it transforms us, unites us, and gives us a foretaste of eternal life. As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, let us allow Christ’s love to shape us into His likeness and carry that hope into the world.

Listen to homily here: 

Holy Thursday Homily – Pilgrims of Hope

In the ancient city of Jerusalem, just outside the Old City walls, there is a famous place of pilgrimage called the Cenacle—sometimes referred to as the Cenaculum or the Upper Room. If you visit this site, you will see pilgrims coming throughout the day to pray and reflect. The current structure, with its Gothic architecture, has been built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times over the centuries. But tradition holds that this is the very place where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His apostles.

Some years ago, I had the privilege of visiting this sacred space. Standing there as a pilgrim, I couldn’t help but wonder: what was it like to be at the Last Supper? What would it have felt like to sit with Jesus, to see and hear what He was doing? On the one hand, it was a familiar Passover meal—something the disciples had observed many times before. As we heard in the first reading, the Passover celebrates the Exodus, with blessings over bread and wine. But this particular Passover was different.

Jesus reconfigured the meal. He took bread, broke it, and said, “This is my body. Take and eat.” He took the cup and said, “This is my blood. Drink from it.” Imagine how strange and mysterious this would have seemed to His followers. They had never heard anything like it.

Today, we may not have the opportunity to travel to the Cenacle, but we do have something equally important: the journey of the Triduum. These three days—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil—form a sacred pilgrimage. We begin tonight at the Last Supper, walk with Jesus through His Passion and Death, and arrive at the Resurrection.

But let us remember: we are not meant to be mere spectators. Pilgrims are different. Pilgrims allow the events they witness to touch their hearts and transform their lives. And this year, the Jubilee Year of Hope, gives this idea of pilgrimage even greater meaning. As Pilgrims of Hope, let us walk these sacred days attentively and prayerfully, asking ourselves: How is Jesus giving us hope? How is He renewing hope in our lives and in the lives of those around us?

Tonight, Holy Thursday, we celebrate several great and intertwined mysteries:

• The gift of the Eucharist, Jesus giving us His very Body and Blood to nourish us;

• The gift of the priesthood—both the ministerial priesthood and the priesthood of all the baptized;

• And the commandment to love, made visible in the Gospel from John, where Jesus stoops to wash the feet of His disciples and tells them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? Now go and do the same.”

How does this evening fill us with hope?

Let us reflect on the Eucharist through the lens of our life’s journey—our pilgrimage from childhood through to old age.

1. The Eucharist at First Communion: Transformation

Tonight, several of our PREP students will receive their First Holy Communion—a joyful and sacred moment. More will follow in May. For many of us, First Communion remains a cherished memory. The sense of awe and wonder may fade with time, but we can remember how special that day was.

Sometimes when distributing Communion, I see parents approach with toddlers in their arms. After the parent receives, the child reaches out, saying, “I want one!” It’s a beautiful sign of desire for this sacred gift.

It wasn’t always the case that children received Communion at a young age. Around 1900, Pope Pius X promoted the practice, recognizing that we need spiritual nourishment early in life to help us grow in holiness.

When we receive the Eucharist, we are transformed into what we receive: Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is not just bread—it is Christ Himself. And as we receive Him, we are called to become like Him. What does that look like? The Gospel shows us: it means service, humility, and love—symbolized in the washing of feet.

This transformation gives us hope. We are not stuck in old patterns—we are being shaped into the likeness of Christ.

2. The Eucharist in Our Journey: Unity

As we continue through life, the Eucharist sustains us and unites us. In the second reading, St. Paul addresses the Corinthians—the earliest written account of the Last Supper. But Paul wasn’t praising them; he was correcting them. The community was divided. The wealthy were feasting and excluding the poor before the Eucharist, making them feel ashamed.

Paul rebukes them because their actions contradict the very meaning of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Jesus gives Himself selflessly to unite us. There is no place for division—rich and poor, powerful and weak—all are one in Christ.

In John’s Gospel, one of Jesus’ final prayers is “that they may all be one.” Unity is the deep desire of Jesus’ heart. And in our world today—with its many divisions, wars, and polarizations—the Church is called to be a sign of unity.

At St. Peter’s, it is moving to witness the diversity of people who come forward for Communion: people of every age, background, and culture. We receive the same Body of Christ and, through it, are made into the Body of Christ—the Church. The Eucharist is a sign of hope because it unites what the world so often tears apart.

3. The Eucharist at Life’s End: A Foretaste of Eternal Life

As our journey nears its end, the Eucharist becomes a profound sign of hope. At St. Peter’s, we have the privilege of bringing Communion to parishioners in hospitals and nursing homes. Sometimes, it is the last time they will receive the Eucharist before entering eternal life.

In receiving the Eucharist, they receive not just a symbol, but the Risen Christ Himself—alive, victorious over death. The Eucharist is a taste of eternity.

St. Ignatius of Antioch, writing in the first century, called the Eucharist “the medicine of immortality, the antidote to death.” This is not poetic language; it is a profession of faith. The Eucharist gives us the promise of eternal life.

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Conclusion: Pilgrims of Hope

So, dear brothers and sisters, as we begin this sacred pilgrimage of the Triduum, let us walk as Pilgrims of Hope.

• Hope that the Eucharist transforms us into the likeness of Christ.

• Hope that the Eucharist unites us as one Body.

• Hope that the Eucharist leads us to eternal life.

Let us open our hearts over these days to what Jesus says and does. And when we say “Amen” at Communion tonight, let it be our joyful affirmation of hope.