THE EASTER VIGIL

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON April 3^rd, 2010

Romans 6:4 “We were buried with Him by baptism into His death. 

So that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we

 too might walk in the newness life. ”

In this simple statement St. Paul teaches that this life of ours is connected with the life of Christ through baptism.  St. Paul talks about us imitating His death, so that, just as Christ has died, so we might die to sin with Him and rise to new life in Christ. 

Of course, we don’t literally die!  Nevertheless, baptism is not just a washing away of sin, but is a drowning of the past, and a putting to death of what was before. 

Nowhere is this made more obvious than tonight, in this wonderful service of the Easter Vigil.  This unusual and visually stirring liturgy takes us from the creation of light and fire, through the light of Christ’s resurrection, then through the waters of the Red Sea, to the waters of baptism - using elementary symbols of fire and water. Fire and water both speak to us of death and life, of destruction and restoration. 

Romans chapter six is not the only time we find St. Paul talking about us dying with Christ.  In 1 Corinthians 10:16 it says, “The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?”  For St. Paul, the two great sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist bind us to the death of Christ.  Not because He died - but because He rose from the dead. 

Tonight the joy of baptizing two adults brings home to us the reality of what St. Paul says.  Through baptism, we share in the resurrection of Christ, and we are enabled to live this new resurrection life by our participation in the Eucharist.  So tonight these two twin sacraments come together, not only as a declaration that Christ has risen - but also the means whereby the resurrection of Jesus becomes real for us.  Thus, we will all renew our baptismal promises, and be sprinkled with the blessed water of baptism. 

Let us be quite clear - tonight is not about rights and ceremonies.  Tonight is about love.  In the gospel we have St. Luke’s account of the empty tomb.  Each of the gospels is different in it’s testimony to the empty tomb. For Luke, it’s the women who come and see angels.  He names who the women are:  Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Joanna.  He finishes his account with St. Peter running to the tomb. 

It is later that the risen Christ actually appears to people.  He does not appear to these people at this moment. 

It is interesting who Jesus did not appear to. He did not appear to Pilot, Herod, the Pharisees, and He certainly not in the temple.  He could of, of course.  He could have gone there and shown them they were all wrong - though I doubt they would have believed.  They probably would have explained it away, and gone on their way unchanged. 

No, the people to whom Jesus appeared were the ones who already loved Him before His Resurrection.  They had already been changed, and loved Him for His words, His deeds, and above all, His love.  They were the ones that Jesus appeared to in His risen body. 

We also are the ones He appears to tonight. 

The resurrection means many things.  What it proves is, as St. Paul says, nothing can come between us, and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

The crucifixion of our Lord was awful and ugly.  It seemed, even to those who loved Jesus, the victory of evil and the defeat of love.  The real victory was literally just around the corner - in the garden, across the park, at the empty tomb. 

That victory continues whenever men and women say once again, “I turn to Christ.  I believe.” 

Yes, Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed!  Alleluia!