In the beginning, God said: Let there be light, and there was light.

From early Christian times, fires and lights served important functional and symbolic roles in the Easter Vigil. Not only did lamps, candles, and torches light up the darkness, but they also served as symbols of Christ. Hence, they called the ceremony "the great service of light" and the evening itself "the night of illumination" or "the night of radiant splendor."

Emperor Constantine transformed this night into the brilliance of day, by lighting throughout the whole city . . . pillars of wax, while burning lamps illuminated every house, so that this celebration was rendered brighter than the brightest day.

This is the night when God led Israel from slavery in Egypt.
This is the night when God banished the darkness of sin by a pillar of fire.
This is the night when God sets Christians from gloom of sin and lead them to grace.
This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death.
This is the night when night shall be as bright as day.
This is the night that dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred and fosters concord.

Just now we lit the paschal candle. This candle is the personification of Christ. It has the holy cross, alpha and omega meaning the beginning and the end, this year 2020 and the five wounds of Jesus. This candle proclaims that Christ is the light of the world. This candle will be used for all baptisms and funerals, to enlighten the baptized and to shine as the eternal light for the dead.   

This year this night is celebrated without the faithful in our churches. But this is also the night when everybody is at home. Nobody is outside and nobody is on travel. We are home. It is like the celebration of the original Passover. In Egypt on this night, everyone was at home. Moses ordered them to eat the Passover meal in a hurry and standing upright. They were ready to start their journey to freedom in the promised land.

We are keeping the same vigil for the same purpose – a journey toward freedom: freedom from fear to joy; freedom from sickness to health; and freedom from death and sin.

May God bless us in this night! May God bless all households as people stay and pray together! May God bless our parish with His life, light and love!