Weekly HOMILY for April 12, 2009: EASTER SUNDAY The Paschal Candle IS Easter!

Easter Sunday, Cycle B
Our Lady of Grace
April 12, 2009

The Paschal Candle IS Easter!
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


The Easter Candle

(This evening, at this extraordinary celebration of what is called the Great Easter Vigil) (Today, at this holiest of all feasts),
there is one symbol that dominates the sanctuary and will continue to do so for 50 days until the Feast of Pentecost.

It is the tallest, the thickest, the most adorned item before us (point and move toward it) a symbol which epitomizes Easter Resurrection. It was lit for the first time (this) (last) evening and will be lit for every Mass during the seven Sundays of the Easter Season.

Let us reflect on the rich symbolism this extraordinary candle offers us as we embark on the holiest Season of the Liturgical Year.

The Easter Candle – properly called the Paschal Candle – is rich in symbolism and meaning. It speaks to us and draws us into union with the Risen Christ as Light, as Love, and as Life.


The Candle: Light

First, the Easter Candle is like any candle in the sense that by its very nature, its purpose it to give light.

It speaks to us of the Risen Christ as our personal Light and our light as a people. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God is often seen as light, as when he is manifested as a Pillar of Fire leading his people in the Exodus through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land.

In the New Testament, St. John is emphatic when he says, “God is light.” And then Jesus says: “I am the light of the world and whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.”

The Risen Christ, specifically as Light, leads us out of all forms of personal and communal darkness. He especially draws us out of the darkness of feeling that life has no purpose or that it has no meaning.

The Risen Christ, as Light, enables us to see that we have indeed come from God and will someday return to God.

Jesus as Light, helps us to know ourselves and others as daughters and sons of God and how we are to relate to one another.


The Candle: Love

Second, the Easter Candle is again like any candle in the sense that it gives warmth.

By its very nature, it has the ability to reach out and give of itself as it gives warmth and in so doing it draws us to it. In this way, it speaks to us of the Risen Christ as Love.

Again we can remember St. John who says so simply: “God is love.” After these words, Jesus gives us the two great commandments of love of God and of love of neighbor.

The Risen Christ, as Love, leads us out of all forms of dysfunctional behavior. He especially draws us out of feelings of worthlessness and indifference toward others.

The Risen Christ, as Love, leads each of us to realize our self-worth as God’s beloved sons and daughters.

And he leads us to reach out to one another and to all of God’s children with the same warmth and compassion and willingness to share.


The Candle: Life

Finally, the Easter Candle is like any candle with its flickering flame.

Here the Symbol declares that Jesus is active and alive. In this way, it speaks to us of the Risen Christ as Life.

We believe that we first share this life of the Risen Christ at Baptism. This is why, in our Catholic tradition, we initiate adults into our faith community at the Easter Vigil.

And this is why all of us are invited to renew our baptismal promises at the Easter Masses. We will do that in just a few minutes.

The Risen Christ, as Life, leads us out of all forms of death into new life in him.

He leads us out of the death of bitterness into the life of forgiveness.

As Life, he leads us out of the death of loneliness into the life of relationship and community.

And above all, he leads us out of the death of death itself to the hope of fuller life with him.


Conclusion

The one symbol that predominates in the sanctuary and will continue to do so for 50 days until the Feast of Pentecost predominates because it must.

It is a constant reminder and instrument through which we experience the reality of Easter in our daily lives.

It both (1) Proclaims and (2) Draws us into the Risen Savior as Light, Love, and Life.

There is justifiable cause for our Alleluias and the joy we share on this day!