Easter Vigil (homily)

On Good Friday, when we finished the veneration of the Cross, when we remembered our Lord’s death, we were left with Jonah’s experience – when he felt totally abandoned and hopeless. We shared his despair, when he prayed: ‘have pity upon me, o you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me…’ Just a day ago, we left the Cross with grief and in despair.
 
On Holy Thursday, and on Good Friday, e were give the preserved bread, which kept our the flame of our faith alive. Just. It was very hard. That bread, contained Jonah’s prayer for the future: ‘For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that ha shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!’
 
On this Holy Night, everything has changed! Everything is upside down, thanks be to God+ On this wonderful Eve, we realise, what was the inner light of Jesus which lead him through his Passion! When he overthrew the tables of the merchants and money changers, he was asked for a sign. ‘What sign do you show us, seeing that you are doing these things?’ Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…’ ‘The zeal of your House, O god, has eaten me up.’
 
Let us be marked by this zeal. Let us be set aflame by the Father’s love… let this burn out all what is bad in us, what is failure, what is unfinished… Let us this burning zeal and new life of our Lord renew our lives, renew our Love, and renew our commitments….