The Light of Easter: From Darkness to Dawn

1. A Most Holy Night Begins in Darkness

As we gather on this most holy night, we begin in darkness—but we will not end in darkness. Look around you now. Notice the silence. Notice the emptiness of light. This darkness is not meant to frighten us; rather, it is meant to prepare our hearts for the greatest miracle of all.

For centuries, the Church has gathered in darkness on this sacred night to remember a simple truth: before resurrection comes the tomb. Before light comes the darkness. Before hope comes the despair of the cross. We do not shy away from this darkness, my dear friends. We embrace it, because we know what comes next.

2. Let There Be Light

And now, watch what happens. From one small splinter of wood, a flame is born. From that single flame, our Pascal candle is lit. And from that one candle, each of your candles now burns bright, filling this sacred space with warm, golden light.

What does this teach us?

·         One small spark drove away all the darkness

·         One flame gave us the courage to face reality

·         One light reminded us that hope is never lost

Look at the wonder of it! This light that now surrounds us comes from something beautiful and natural—beeswax gathered from countless flowers, collected by God's tiny creatures, the bees. Even our light tonight speaks of God's creation working together for something beautiful. The bees pollinate the flowers; the flowers give their nectar; the bees make the wax; and together, they give us this sacred light. This is how God works—through cooperation, through unity, through love.

3. A Story of Transformation: Augustine's Journey

But tonight, I want to share with you the story of a man who understood the power of light in darkness. His name was Augustine, and he lived many centuries ago. In his youth, Augustine walked in great darkness. He wandered far from God, lost in sin and confusion.

But one day, Augustine encountered Jesus Christ. His heart was changed. He became a great saint of the Church. And one day, walking through a city square where he used to spend his time in his old ways, a woman called out to him: “Augustine! Augustine!”

He did not turn around. When she called again, he finally responded: “I am not that same Augustine. I am a different Augustine.”

My dear friends, this is what Easter means for each of us. We can become different people. The old order has passed away. Death no longer has the final word. Jesus is risen, and there will be no more permanent darkness in our lives. Just as Augustine was transformed from a man of darkness into a child of light, so too can you be transformed tonight.

4. God Works Even When We Cannot See

But I know that not all of you feel this joy tonight. Some of you carry heavy burdens. Some of you wonder: “Where is God? I don't see Him working in my life. I don't see Him working in my family. I don't see Him working in our village.”

Listen to what the Church teaches us through the example of St. John of the Cross. Even he—a saint, a holy man—experienced what he called the “dark night of the soul.” There were times when he could not feel God's presence. Times when he could not see God moving. Times when the darkness seemed absolute.

But remember these eternal truths:

·         God says “Let there be light,” and there IS light—even when you cannot see it

·         St. John of the Cross experienced the “dark night of the soul”

·         When you cannot see God, He has not abandoned you—He is still at work

Trust, my friends. Trust in the God who moves in darkness. Trust in the God whose love does not depend on whether you can feel it. Trust in the resurrection.

5. Where Darkness Lives in Our World Today

Let us be honest with ourselves. We live in a world where real darkness exists. This darkness is not imaginary. It is not abstract. It is real, and it lives among us.

·         In violence: Where hands are soaked in blood, there cannot be light or peace

·         In war: Where innocents are killed, darkness reigns

·         In hardened hearts: Where people hold onto revenge, hatred, and wrong directions

·         In addictions: Where substance abuse and alcohol enslave our neighbours

·         In lies: Where false news and wrong companionship lead people astray

We see this darkness in our families. We see it in our villages. We see it in ourselves. And this is why Easter is not a comfortable message. Easter is a revolutionary message. It declares that this darkness—real as it is—does not have the final word.

Jesus' tomb was different from all ordinary tombs, you see. Ordinary tombs are dark and full of decay. They are places of finality and despair. But His tomb tells a different story. The stone was rolled away. The tomb stands empty. And this emptiness, my friends, is not truly empty—it is a sign of life that has moved on to something greater. It is a sign of victory over death itself.

6. Small Light, Infinite Power

Tonight you witnessed something miraculous: one small flame lit our entire church. From darkness to light. From one to many. From despair to hope. This simple act teaches us profound truths about how God works in the world.

Never underestimate the power of small things done with great love:

·         A small prayer can strengthen a believer's entire life

·         A small act of help can save many lives

·         A small sacrifice can teach great lessons

·         One word—“sorry” or “love”—can change the hardest sinner's heart

You may think you are unimportant. You may think that you are just a simple village person with little power. But I tell you this: you do not need to be important in the world's eyes to make a difference in God's kingdom. One kindness. One prayer. One moment of forgiveness. These are the things that change the world.

Do you have a family member who is lost? Do not despair. Your love for them is a small flame that burns in the darkness. Do you live in a village where sin and suffering seem to reign? Do not lose hope. Your faithfulness is a candle that lights the way for others. One small flame. Infinite power. This is the mystery of Easter.

7. Children of Light, Children of Resurrection

Tonight, Christ calls each of us. Listen carefully, for He is calling you by name. Jesus speaks to every person in this church: “Come out of your tomb!”

Tonight, Christ calls each of us to become:

·         Children of light—reflecting His brightness in dark places

·         Children of resurrection—living with hope beyond the grave

·         Children of Alleluia—carrying joy even in suffering

Come out of the tomb of:

·         Fear that paralyses you

·         Sin that separates you from God

·         Hopelessness that weighs down your spirit

Come out and live again! This is not a gentle invitation, my friends. This is a command from the risen Christ. He does not ask if you are worthy. He does not ask if you have been good enough. He simply calls: "Come out!"

There is a resurrection waiting for you. Not just in heaven—though yes, that too. But a resurrection is happening right now. A new life. New hope. New purpose. New relationships healed. New sins forgiven. A new person emerging from the tomb of the old self.

8. The Proof of Resurrection: Ancient Wisdom Confirms New Life

Some of you may wonder: "How can I believe in resurrection? I have never seen anyone rise from the dead." This is a fair question. Let me answer it with ancient wisdom.

The Church has treasured for two thousand years the testimonies of the disciples who saw the risen Christ. They did not imagine this. They did not make it up. They were transformed by it. Men who fled in fear became men who faced torture and death rather than deny what they had seen. Would they die for a lie? Would they suffer for a delusion? No. Something real happened. Something that changed everything.

But more than this, we have the testimony of creation itself. Every spring, the earth rises from winter's death. Every seed that falls to the ground dies, and from that death comes new life. Every person who has truly encountered God's love has experienced a kind of resurrection—a rising from despair to joy, from darkness to light, from loneliness to belonging.

This is not ancient history. This is not a story from a distant land. This is your story. This can be your resurrection—tonight.

9. Go Forth: The Call to New Life

So, as we leave this church tonight, we do not leave as the same people who entered. We have sat with darkness. We have seen the light. We have heard the call of the risen Christ. We have been reminded that we are children of light, children of resurrection, children of Alleluia.

Take your candles home. Let them burn as a reminder of your commitment tonight. Burn them before your family. Tell them: "Christ is risen. Death is defeated. We will live again."

And tomorrow, when you wake in the dawn of Easter morning, remember this night. Remember the small flame that lit the entire church. Remember that you, too, are a small flame in the darkness of this world. You may be just one person, but your light matters. Your prayer matters. Your love matters.

The Light of Easter has come. From darkness to dawn. From death to life. From despair to hope. And this light will never go out.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Alleluia!

 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

St. Albert's College, Ranchi

The Empty Tomb: Non-existence as Existence

Do not see Me where I am Not, see me where I am. When you see me there, you will be a different person.

Easter is crossing over. It is a crossing from one state of life to another. Symbolically, it is a crossing of the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) from the land of Egypt (known to be bondage) to the land of liberty, the land flowing honey and milk, a land of prosperity, justice and peace. 

To understand this crossing over, we can consider a caterpillar eating the heavy stuff in the jungle and making its cocoon and after a period of time, comes out with a beautiful body, wings and flies around, pollinating the flowers, mesmerizing the children and assisting the plants to yield berries, drupes and fruits. The butterfly makes its presence felt. It is no more in the cocoon. The old life is a thing of the past and a new life has begun. Everyone hates the caterpillar, it is ugly, it is itchy, it is dangerous; but not the butterfly. Butterfly is a mystery revealed from the cocoon, it is a mesmerizing beauty to the poets, writers, children and the old. It is an inspiration to others to ‘become.’ 

Our past life is like a life of bondage in Egypt. It is a life of Babylonian captivity. It is a life of struggle in the desert, hungry, thirsty and tired. At times we felt, ‘God has forsaken us’ in our sojourn. We condemned our leaders who led us to the Promised Land. We doubted in our own inner beauty and strength. When we were thirsty for a drop of water, we fought wars with self and with each other. 

Then the days of life in the cocoon began. What were those forty days! The Lenten Days. Those were the days of fasting, penance, abstinence, prayer and reflection. 

One truth is learnt in these days for sure, as any motivational speakers who rightly say, “if I can today, I can tomorrow. If I can, I will. If I could in these forty days, I will in the next coming forty years.” Yes. Many of us were fasting from ill-speaking, back-biting, violence, destruction, lies, hatred, jealousy, avarice and the list goes on and on. Many were trying to overcome their addictions, addictions alcohol, drugs, sex, internet, pornography, whatsapp, facebook and what not! Many were atoning for their past sins and karmas. Many were practicing the virtues of service, benevolence, mercy and charity. For such people, Jesus has risen today. He has strengthened them for the last forty days and is continuing to strengthen now. If they have succeeded in the last forty days, they will succeed in the coming forty years as well. Change is possible. New life is possible. Resurrection is possible. Acche din possible. 

This does not mean that there will not be difficulties and problems in the future life. The fact that I have begun to live a resurrected life, is the fact that I am ready for the struggle within. But now the same struggle is with a positive approach and not with a negative, depressed and pessimism. The butterfly has to face the world. It has to face the bigger animals of which the prey it is. But now it is not afraid to face the reality. It lives till its last breath giving life to others, pollinating the flowers, cheering the children of the creation, and thus bearing a witness to the world. St. Stephan did it, St. Paul did it and many other eminent saints of the list. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhiji, Oscar Romero, Rani Maria, A.T. Thomas, Graham Stains and their children and many more such people have done it in front of our eyes. If they have done, why can’t I?

Resurrection is Jesus becoming alive. He is truly resurrected. He will die no more. His presence cannot be reduced to the pages of the Bible or a statue in a church, or limited to the tabernacle in the church, institutions and building. He is no more confined to the limited space of our selfish desires. He is a living reality. We can encounter and discover him in the midst of our lives through the eyes of faith - in all our problems, struggles, crises, challenges, worries, dilemmas, difficulties, calamities, trials, risks, struggles, joys and sorrows, disappointments and frustrations. Because he lives, we can experience his peace in the midst of our disturbed and anxious minds, his providence in our deprivation, his support in our weakness and his outstretched arms in our faults, falls and failures.

Today the resurrected Jesus has to be seen not in the tomb where He was laid to rest. He is to be seen in the living people. He is that same Jesus in the farmer tilling the land in the remote village with the seeds of hope. He is seen amongst the slum dwellers who struggle for an inch of land and morsel of bread. He is seen in every mother struggling to feed her young one. 

He is seen in the hospitals in the nurses and doctors giving life to the patients. He is the same Jesus who is carrying the discarded foetus from our backyards and dustbins and nurture them with motherly care. He is the same resurrected Jesus in the old-age homes taking care of the chased out fathers and mothers from their homes. He is the same resurrected Jesus in the schools and colleges holding the hands of the tiny tots and teaching them the values of life. 

Jesus has Risen. I have seen him. I have witnessed his acts. I have seen his empty tomb. I also have seen his glory on the earth. Therefore, I have made a firm resolution in life that I will carry and witness this resurrected Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life to people around. 

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta