Easter Vigil Homily: From Tomb to Womb, How the Resurrection Changes Everything

 Easter Vigil

The resurrection of Jesus is the turning point of history that brings about a new creation and a new way of life. Through baptism, believers die to the old life of sin and are reborn into the life of Christ, called to live as light in the world. This new life is not lived alone, but with the constant presence of Christ, who goes before us and frees us from fear.

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The Lord is risen, alleluia. Alleluia!

Today, my dear brothers and sisters, is an evening of great joy. It is so beautiful to see so many people here this evening as we celebrate what is, for us, the central and most important aspect of our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which changes everything.

This is a very important night in particular for those here in the RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Each of you has been journeying for many months, preparing for baptism and preparing to enter the Catholic Church. For all of us who accompany you and rejoice with you this evening, this is also an important moment, because at this Mass we affirm our faith in the resurrection of Jesus and recommit ourselves to living our baptismal calling.

In the Church, there are many ways that we speak about the resurrection. We use language like victory, glory, and Christ conquering death. But this evening, in the readings and gestures we have experienced, the Church uses the language of birth and rebirth.

It always brings great joy when parishioners present a newborn baby. Many of you have experienced this, especially those who are parents. There is joy and relief when the baby is healthy and the mother is well. When you see that newborn child, it fills you with joy. There is so much promise and hope in that new life that has come into the world.

Birth and rebirth offer us a powerful image. Throughout the readings and rituals this evening, we are experiencing this theme of new birth.

The first birth we celebrate is that of Jesus Christ into eternal life, into a new form of existence. St. Paul describes Jesus as the “firstborn from the dead.” In our tradition, the tomb of Jesus can be seen as the womb from which Christ is born into this new life.

In the great hymn we heard at the beginning of Mass, we heard the words “O happy fault of Adam, that earned for us so great a Savior.” St. Paul makes this comparison clearly. Before Christ, we were in the lineage of Adam: we sinned, we suffered, we died. But now, in Jesus Christ, the new Adam, something entirely new has entered the world. Christ has risen from the dead and no longer dies. With him, we are being transformed into a new way of life.

One of the most beautiful moments at the beginning of the Easter liturgy is when we enter the darkened church after the blessing of the fire. Then we light our candles from the Easter candle. To see that flame spread throughout the congregation is powerful. Each of us holds that light, the light that Christ brings into our world.

We have heard many readings this evening that tell our story: a history of sin and defeat, but also a history of the victory that Christ brings. In Jesus, there is a new creation. He is the firstborn from the dead, and this is the first birth we celebrate tonight.

We also celebrate another important event: our rebirth in baptism. Later in this liturgy, we will renew our baptismal promises and recommit ourselves to following Jesus. Tonight reminds us of what baptism does. We are blessed to have about seventeen individuals being baptized this evening, which is a great gift for our parish.

To those who will be baptized, I would like to speak the words of St. Paul from Romans 6: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.”

When we look at the baptismal font, we can see it as both a tomb and a womb. In baptism, we die to the old way of life, the way marked by sin and death. And from that same water, we are born into new life in Christ. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we are born again into eternal life.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are gradually transformed to become more like Jesus, until that transformation is complete when Christ returns.

We also have among us individuals who were previously baptized in another Christian community. Baptism is so important that it is done only once. These individuals now reaffirm their baptismal commitment and enter into full communion with the Catholic Church through confirmation.

For all of us, this is a moment to renew our baptismal commitment and remember how deeply it changes our lives. We are people who believe in the resurrection and in eternal life, and this changes everything.

The symbols of this evening speak to this new life. Water reminds us of creation, when the Spirit hovered over the waters. Now, in baptism, we are made a new creation.

The newly baptized will receive a white garment, symbolizing that they have put on Christ. They are conformed to Christ as priest, prophet, and king.

In confirmation, they will be anointed with chrism oil, which carries a fragrance meant to remind us of the Holy Spirit. This anointing sends them on mission to proclaim the Gospel and build up the Kingdom of God.

The candle they receive reminds us that we are called to be the light of Christ. Alone, our flame may seem small, but together, we can bring Christ’s light into the world.

Most importantly, in this new life we are not alone. Jesus is always with us.

To those in the RCIA, I offer the words from the Gospel: “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Do not be afraid. You will see him.

There is a prayer we often say: “May Christ, who began the good work in you, bring it to completion.” This reminds us that even the desire to seek God comes from him. God always takes the first step. He invites us, and we respond.

The Lord will be with us. He goes before us. He is present in the sacraments, in Scripture, and in this community that you are entering tonight. For this reason, we do not need to be afraid.

So let us pray in a special way for those about to be baptized, for those entering full communion with the Church, and for all of us, that we may remember deeply our baptism. Through it, we are joined to Christ and transformed.

Let us accept once again our calling to live as his light in the world, without fear, because the Lord is risen and goes before us.

The Way of Christ vs the Way of the World: A Good Friday Reflection on Peace, Power, and True Victory

 Good Friday

There are two ways before us: the way of violence, power, and retaliation, and the way of Christ, marked by love, sacrifice, and peace. In the Passion, especially as presented in John’s Gospel, Jesus reveals that true victory comes not through force but through self-giving love. We are invited, especially as we venerate the cross, to choose again the way of Christ, which alone breaks the cycle of violence and leads to life.

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In Jerusalem stands what is, for us, the most famous church in the world, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built by Constantine in the fourth century. The Church stands above the place of Golgotha, the hill where Christ was crucified. Within it is a small chapel called the Aedicule, which contains the remains of the cave where, as far as we can tell, Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. It is a sacred site, and each year pilgrims stream constantly to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, especially during the days of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

These celebrations are led by the Patriarch in Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has presided over the Triduum liturgies for several years. This year, however, the celebrations are very different. They are taking place almost in silence. There are no pilgrims and no faithful permitted to attend in person. The liturgies unfold with only a few priests present. We are witnessing a dramatic juxtaposition. On the one hand, the Church celebrates the love, service, and peace of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, these celebrations take place in a region marked by war, with violence affecting Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond.

This contrast highlights two ways of living. In the early Church, one of the earliest names for Christians was “the Way.” Before the term “Christianity” was widely used, discipleship was understood as following a particular way of life. The Acts of the Apostles reflects this. The early Christians recognized that there are fundamentally different paths we can choose.

One path is the way of violence, oppression, warfare, and greed. This way is well summarized in a line from the Greek historian Thucydides, written about five hundred years before Christ: “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.” This way continues to appear in our world. It is tempting to respond to violence with violence, to injustice with retaliation, to seek more at the expense of others. Yet this path solves nothing. From the story of Cain and Abel onward, Scripture shows how this way leads only to cycles of destruction and suffering.

Jesus offers a different way. In the Passion account from the Gospel of John, we see this clearly. Jesus is in a context of oppression and injustice, yet he does not respond with violence. He responds with peace, self-giving, and love. John presents the Passion not simply as suffering, but as glory. This section of the Gospel is often called the Book of Glory.

John’s account emphasizes that Jesus remains in control. When the soldiers come to arrest him, there is no kiss of betrayal as in the Synoptic Gospels. Instead, Jesus steps forward and asks, “Whom are you looking for?” He freely gives himself over. On the cross, he does not cry out in despair. He speaks with authority, entrusting his mother and completing his mission. He chooses the moment when his work is finished. John wants us to see that this is not defeat, but victory. Christ overcomes violence not by greater force, but through love and self-sacrifice.

This is the way we are called to follow. It is a way of forgiveness, charity, justice, and peace. Throughout history, Christians have embraced this path. Saint Francis of Assisi, during the time of the Crusades, chose not to fight but to seek dialogue. He crossed into enemy territory and met with the Sultan. Although peace was not achieved, they parted with mutual respect.

Centuries later, Pope Francis demonstrated this same spirit. During the conflict in South Sudan, he invited leaders of opposing factions to Rome. In a remarkable gesture, he knelt and kissed their feet, pleading with them to seek peace. This is the way of Christ.

Each of us faces this choice. We may be tempted toward the way described by Thucydides, but we are invited again and again to choose the way of Christ. As we come forward to venerate the cross, we not only express our love for Jesus but recommit ourselves to this path. It is a path that may not appear powerful in the eyes of the world, but it is the way that leads to true victory, peace, and life.

Let us pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to recognize what Christ has done for us and to follow the way he has shown us, the way of love, peace, and life. 

What Does It Mean to Be Human in Christ? Holy Thursday, Service, and the Transforming Power of the Eucharist

 Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday invites us to reflect on what it truly means to be human in Christ: to live in communion, to serve others, and to be transformed by grace. Through the Eucharist, we are drawn into unity and shaped into the likeness of Jesus. Ultimately, it is not our own effort, but Christ himself who makes us fully human.

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Earlier this week, I received a message from a Purolator courier that my package was on its way. When you see those messages, you get excited, and of course I went online to track it as it made its way across the country. I went to the website, and suddenly a chat window popped up. I know it was a computer, but as I typed back and forth, it seemed surprisingly human. It asked how it could help me, I said I wanted to track my package, and we had a pleasant exchange. At the end, it said, “Have a nice day,” and I replied, “Have a nice day to you as well.” Then I stopped and thought, I just wished a computer a good day.

Artificial intelligence is all around us. There are many debates about what impact it will have. Some say it will change everything. Others think it may be overhyped. But regardless, it raises deeper questions. If we speak of artificial intelligence, what is human intelligence? What does it mean to be human? What makes us unique? And ultimately, how does God want us to live as human beings in Christ?

Over these three days, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, we enter into what is really one continuous liturgy. You will notice that after this evening and after tomorrow’s liturgy, there is no formal dismissal. Each celebration flows into the next. Through the readings, rituals, and prayers, we are drawn into the central question: who is God, and how are we to live as human beings in Christ?

This evening, the liturgy of Holy Thursday helps us reflect on what it means to be truly human. First, we see that to be human is to live in community, especially a community that includes those on the margins. In the second reading, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, addressing divisions within their community. They had formed factions and excluded others, even during the celebration of the Eucharist. The wealthy gathered and ate first, while the poor were left out and made to feel ashamed.

Paul strongly rebukes this behavior. The Eucharist is a celebration of Christ’s total self-gift, and such exclusion contradicts its meaning. When we receive the Eucharist, we are formed into one body. To live as human beings in Christ means to live in communion, to recognize the dignity of every member, and to build unity rather than division.

Second, the Gospel shows us that to be human is to serve. Holy Thursday is also called “Maundy Thursday,” from the Latin mandatum, meaning commandment. In John’s Gospel, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: to love one another as he has loved them. He then shows what this love looks like by washing their feet.

After the homily, we reenact this moment. It is a powerful reminder that as disciples, we are called to serve. True love begins when it becomes inconvenient, when it costs us something. There is a well-known story about Mother Teresa. A wealthy man once saw her caring for a dying man with severe wounds and said, “I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars.” She replied, “Neither would I. But I do it for Christ.” This is the kind of love we are called to.

Finally, we learn that to be human in Christ is to be transformed. The Eucharist is not simply a symbol; it is the gift of Jesus himself. Through it, we are changed. St. Augustine once said, “Be what you see; receive what you are.” Pointing to the Eucharist, he taught that what we receive is Christ, and in receiving him, we become more like him.

Normally, when we eat food, it becomes part of us. But in the Eucharist, the opposite happens. We become part of Christ. We are drawn into his life, his love, and his mission.

At the end of this Mass, there is no final blessing. Instead, we continue in prayer. We will process with the Blessed Sacrament and place it at the altar of repose. You are invited to remain in silent prayer, recalling Jesus in the garden and preparing to enter more deeply into his Passion. The church will remain open until midnight.

Tonight, we reflect on what it means to be human in Christ. We are called into community. We are called to serve. And above all, we are transformed by the Eucharist. It is not by our own efforts that we become fully human, but through the grace of Jesus Christ, given to us in this sacred gift.