This is the night. This is the moment of salvation - the Resurrection, our strength and hope

Wishing you all a wonderful, blessed Easter. Christ is Risen as he says, Alleluia Alleluia!! 

Just finished serving at the Easter Vigil Mass, and there is a beauty to it, that no matter how you’re feeling or what you are going through - some part of it will touch your heart. The fire, the paschal candle, the readings, the songs, the bells, the incense, the candles, the flowers, the homily, the Eucharist or the other people gathered in the pews celebrating together with you of the hope that unites us - whatever it is, some part of us will speak to you in whatever way you need to hear right now. 

This has been a tough Lent for me , there has been a lot of personal struggles, issues resurfacing or disappointments that have made me feel hurt, angry and disappointed. But no matter what life throws my way, no matter how much I struggle or sin or fail or even be unfaithful - Jesus is always faithful (2 Timothy 2:18). He loves me, He loves you - the love He has for us is so real it killed Him (Galatians 2:20. Yet He is still alive and is with us, telling us to take refuge in His wounds where He will heal us, restore us, sanctify us and give us shelter. But even more than that - He will transform us! (2 Corinthians 3:18). He will one day make us like He is, and this is the hope that gives hs strength!! 

Tonight, it was the words of the Exsultet that spoke to me and that I needed to hear. Words of joy, beauty and hope. Reassurance that even in the darkness of pain and hurt - He is in control and working out all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28) 

This is the night. The moment of salvation is now (Hebrews 4:7-11). Not yesterday or tomorrow but now - the eternal now of Christ alive and Risen who loves us and is with us always. We have no need to fear or despair, He is Risen and alive!! Because He lives, I can face tomorrow 🙏🙏

——- 

This is the night,

when Christ broke the prison-bars of death

and rose victorious from the underworld.

O wonder of your humble care for us!

O love, O charity beyond all telling,

to ransom a slave you gave away your Son!

O truly necessary sin of Adam,

destroyed completely by the Death of Christ!

O happy fault

that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!

The sanctifying power of this night

dispels wickedness, washes faults away,

restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners.

O truly blessed night,

when things of heaven are wedded to those of earth

and divine to the human.