Easter Sunday 2018

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There are many parts of the Triduum that are so beautiful and profound but for me one of the most moving is when the Easter Paschal Candle comes into the darkness of the Church for the first time. The last time we were here at this moment we had commemorated the Lord’s death. We had left in silence the place feels and looks empty void of all life. The Candle comes in and from that one light the church floods with light as the Candle takes the same path as the Cross. From Death therefore comes life. The Easter light and joy therefore penetrate our own darkness of sin and the joy of the Resurrection takes hold like the light takes hold in the Church. 

This joy then of Easter is that light of Christ penetrating our darkness that can so often surround us. Sometimes though we have to go looking for them. These I call Easter egg moments. They are those moments of light and joy in our world. Those moments where we see Christ at work in our lives. They maybe a unexpected gift from a friend, a smile from someone, maybe where someone has been kind. We need to remember these moments of joy these moments of resurrection and life. I have been reminded of how important this is over the last month where there has been times where the darkness surrounds us both physically with the cold but also physiologically finding these moments are important but also remembering them are vital for us to experience this light these Easter egg moments. 

We need to find life and choose it. We find ultimately this life in the person of Jesus in the Easter sacraments in the life force of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation in the Life within us in the Blessed sacrament. In a few moments time we will renew that life in Jesus as we renew our Baptismal vows. We are reminded once again that we belong to Christ that he is our light he is our joy. By doing this we are once again inviting Jesus into our lives we are recommitting ourselves to proclaim the life we find in the resurrection. We are, and appropriately for this weekend, being fools for Christ. As St Paul so wonderfully puts it. To be a fool for Christ means that we put him first that we put the life that we have been given to us in Baptism at the centre of all we do. 


By finding Christ by finding this joy in our lives it changes us. Let us look for the joy of the resurrection in the life we lead. Look for them open our eyes of faith experience that joy of living in Christ through our baptismal faith. And ultimately be fools for Christ by telling others about him and the Resurrection and Jesus will change your life. 

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