FIRE & WATER

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE - EASTER VIGIL 2007

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

We love to greet each other with this Easter greeting don't we? This very ancient Easter greeting is what Christians say to each other on Easter Day. And with those words Christ is risen we declare what this night means. In this wonderful liturgy of the Easter Vigil we have truly celebrated that great event which is at the center of the Christian faith - the resurrection of Jesus.

This is what the gospel proclaims and what we have just heard. Or have we? Actually the gospel describes what happened afterwards, when they came to the empty tomb. It doesn't actually describe the Resurrection itself. There is no description anywhere in the bible about what happened on that night, or how - only what greeted everyone when they came to the tomb in the morning.

Of course there are plenty of stories about the risen Christ and the effect of his Resurrection on people. But there is no description of what happened on this night. Why is this so, since this is essential to our religion?

Firstly, because no one was there to see it. It makes it hard to have a description.

Secondly, this core belief of our faith rests entirely on faith. We have to believe in our hearts that Jesus rose from the dead. Not how it happened. To many people it seems an impossible thing, the realm of fairy tale. And the fact there is no descript ion of it in the bible suggests that we may be fools, referring to my Palm Sunday sermon.

Thirdly, such an amazing event could surely not be described in scientific terms? We are talking about the realm of the supernatural - of the divine coming to earth.

So when the church comes to celebrate that event it does so with poetry and images - and a familiar word: Alleluia! Tonight poetry and images conclude a week of high drama - and in particular these last 3 days of drama and emotion.

The liturgies of these 3 nights have led us through this drama of Christ like great theater. Indeed, the preparation by the choir and acolytes was like putting on a bit of grand opera in Hillcrest! And they were grand opera, the liturgies - and they celebrate the great event which won for our salvation. Such a story can only best be described in images and ceremonial. That is what we are doing tonight.

Firstly, a new fire - symbolizing new life and light in the darkness. Secondly, a holy candle inscribed with sacred signs. And as that candle was carried into the darkened church it symbolized so dramatically the risen Christ in the darkened tomb, rising from the darkness of death.

Each one of us received our own light from that candle. As the light spread amongst us did we not feel Christ's new life raising our spirits in joy and spreading his resurrection faith amongst us?

In a moment another symbol - water. We already have a hint of this in our first reading - when we heard of the tale of the Exodus, when God first saved his people through water. Now we come to the ceremony where the font will be blessed. We will renew our baptismal vows, and then be sprinkled with the blessed water. All of this calls to mind the Epistle, Romans 6, where St. Paul declares that when we were baptized it was our sharing in Christ's death and resurrection.

When you were baptized you went in the tomb with Jesus, that just as Jesus died and rose to a new life, so we might rise to a new life with him. And he concludes with these wonderful words: "If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him."

Not only is baptism our going into that tomb - but also our baptismal promises are a sharing in Christ's death. "Do you reject Satan, and all his works, and all his pomp?” You will be asked. In his resurrection Jesus was indeed rejecting Satan, and all his works, and all his pomp. And then we come to the Eucharist, the first Mass of Easter. The Body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion this first Mass of Easter - the first of many Easter Masses - is a profound encounter with the risen Christ.

On Thursday night as we celebrated the Last Supper, we received Holy Communion as the Body of Christ given in love.

Yesterday we saw that Body as the sacrifice that takes our sins away.

Now in the joy of this Mass we see it as the glorious, resurrected Body of Christ conveying power, forgiveness and new life.

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