Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Deacon's Bench

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Homily for April 7, 2012: Easter Vigil

Homily for April 7, 2012: Easter Vigil

Last updated on: April 7, 2012 at 10:39 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

Homily for April 7, 2012: Easter Vigil 2012-04-07T10:39:47-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

[Click here for readings.]

Last year, I had the good fortune to interview a spirited nun from Armenia named Sister Arousiag. She is a Sister of the Immaculate Conception, and the mother superior of a convent in one of Armenia’s largest cities. There is almost nothing she doesn’t do. She’s a fierce, determined little woman who operates an orphanage, as well as a day care center for the elderly, and a summer camp program that serves over 800 orphaned children every year.

This is a woman living out the gospel in one of the most desperate, economically challenged corners of the world – a place ravaged by war, earthquakes and economic crises.

There is widespread unemployment in Armenia right now, and many people are leaving. Those left behind are often left destitute. But she doesn’t see the poor or the desperate as problems to be solved – she sees, instead, challenges to be met, and lives to be changed. She serves people of all religions, all backgrounds, all beliefs.

And she does it for one reason:

She sees every day as a chance to share God’s love.

As we concluded our interview, I commented on her unusual name, Arousiag, and asked her what it meant.

She smiled. “It’s an old Armenian name,” she said. “It means carrier of light.”

That, of course, fits her perfectly. She is a bearer of hope, of dignity, of love. She really is a carrier of light.

And this evening, we are reminded: so are we.

The candles we carried at the beginning of this liturgy spread person to person, flame to flame. This sacred candle, representing the very light of Christ, became a part of every one of us. And so we became, each of us, a “carrier of light.”

That means we share in the beauty, the wonder, and the illumination of this wondrous night. We share in the joyous news that Christ is risen. And it means that we need to share that good news, that light, with others.

And share it, we do.

According to the USCCB, last year, in the United States, there were over 830-thousand infant baptisms. 43-thousand adult baptisms. Nearly 73-thousand people received into full communion with the church.

The light just keeps spreading. And we’re adding to it tonight, here and now, with those joining our church, the candidates and catechumens.

Every year I stand here and watch this miracle unfold, and every year I am moved and inspired by the love and commitment of those who have chosen to become a part of our faith. And it connects beautifully to a message in tonight’s gospel.

You’ll remember that the young man in the tomb said to the women, “Do not be amazed!”

How could they not be? How could they contain the wonder at what they were seeing?

But yet he told them: This shouldn’t surprise you. Jesus has been raised. He is not here. He will meet them in Galilee.

As the sun began to dawn in Jerusalem on that morning 2,000 years ago, a timeless truth dawned, as well. Jesus is not to be found among the dead. He is among the living.

You won’t find him in an empty tomb made of rock. You will find him in Galilee, among fishermen. You will find him on the road to Emmaus, in the breaking of the bread. You will find him in churches around the world this night, where these candles burn like stars. You will find him in hospices and hospitals, in orphanages and shelters. He is where hope fights despair, where love battles injustice, where compassion dries the tears of the suffering.

You will find him in Armenia, in the work of Sr. Arousiag, that “carrier of light.”

You will find him here, among our catechumens and candidates, and all who fervently want to spread that light.

Do not be amazed that God keeps his promises. Instead, be amazed at His great, enduring love – a love that prevails through history, in spite of our sinfulness and our brokenness.

Be amazed at God’s astounding mercy and generous concern for humanity– as the Exsultet says, “To ransom a slave, you gave away your son.”

Be amazed that we are blessed to carry on what God’s son began – and have done it for over 20 centuries. It only happens by God’s grace.

Be amazed that we are blessed to be here tonight, gathered under this roof, joined together as one family of faith, holding candles in our hands and singing alleluias on our lips.

When you leave this sacred space tonight, take your candle home with you. Remember what it represents. Remember who we are.

And remember this: in a world that seems so often overwhelmed by the dark…miraculously, joyously, amazingly, we are called to be– blessed to be–carriers of light.

Homilies

Previous Post

April 7, 2012

"Seven Last Words"

Next Post

April 7, 2012 What happened to Satan's empty promises?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many plagues did God inflict upon Egypt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

7 10 21 14

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »