Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter, April 6

Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter
(On Friday night, in a tragic accident, Chris, a high school senior in Concord, lost his life, and Greg, another student, was critically injured. Chris' family, friends and the whole town are mourning this loss...)


Acts 2:14, 22-23
1 Peter 1:17-21
Luke 24:13-35

Last Saturday we had a retreat for our second graders who are preparing to receive the Eucharist for the first time this spring. Part of the retreat includes the children touring the church, in small groups, with me as the tour guide. One question that came up in each of the five groups was, “Why do we have this giant candle in the middle of the church?” I explained that it’s the Paschal Candle, the Easter Candle, reminding us that Christ is the light no darkness can extinguish, and that it’s big so that everyone will see it and no one will miss it.

The light of Christ is always in our lives and if it followed us around as a six-foot pillar of wax, we’d never forget that he was with us. But that’s not how the light of Christ shines on us.
It’s more like a small vigil light, burning steadily, a small flame, a glow.
Like this one.
(Show and light a vigil candle)

- When you woke up this morning,
the light of Christ was by your bed,
having spent the night watching over you…
(place lighted vigil on the ambo) (Show and light a vigil candle for each of the following…)

- If you’ve already spoken a kind word to someone today,
you spoke it in the light of Christ…

- If you’ve already spoken an unkind word to someone today,
Christ was with you as you spoke it…

- When you left your home to come here this morning,
Christ jumped into the car with you
and with any who came with you to church…
and Christ jumped in the car with Chris and Greg
on Friday night…

- If you go out for coffee after Mass this morning,
Christ will join you and those who go with you…

- Wherever you go this afternoon,
the light of Christ will follow you…

- Whatever you do this day,
the light of Christ will shine upon your deeds…

- When you laugh today,
Christ will laugh with you…

- Should you cry today,
and many in Concord are crying today,
Christ will be there to wipe away your tears…

- In every conversation you have today,
and in all your quiet moments,
Christ will be there, listening…

- Wherever you go this evening,
Christ will go with you…

- Whatever happens to you this day or night,
Christ will be by your side…

- When Chris and Greg had their accident,
Christ was with them…

- As we grieve Chris’ death today,
Christ grieves with us…

- As we try to understand this tragedy,
which admits of no understanding,
Christ is with us…

- As Chris passes from this life
to life with God forever,
Christ walks with him,
his companion and his light on the journey…

For Christ is the light no darkness,
not even the darkness of death,
can extinguish…

Sometimes the darkness is so thick
that no matter how hard we strain,
we cannot see the light.

Our faith is the vision we rely on
when we cannot see the light.

What distinguishes us as Christians
is our belief, our faith in Christ
who promises to be with us
even and especially when we do not see him.

Look at the two disciples in the gospel story today.
They were grieving the loss of their friend.
They were trying to understand
what they had heard about the empty tomb.
They were walking with Jesus
– but they did not see him!
They were talking to Jesus, about Jesus
– but they did not see him!

They missed him in the darkness of the moment
and did not see the light of his presence
until he sat down with them at a table
to break bread.

And that is why we are here right now.
We have come to this table
to hear the voice of Christ in the scriptures
and to break bread with him in the Eucharist.

When Jesus broke the bread in the gospel story,
the two recognized him immediately.

When we break the bread of this altar,
we recognize the presence of Christ
in his body and blood,
in the sacrament of his presence among us.

These little vigil lights trace the trail of Christ’s presence
following us through every day and every night.
Sometimes we do not see the light
and so we need to come here
to bask together in the light of the Paschal Candle
and to see the risen Christ
in the sacrament of this table.

Pray with me that Spirit will deepen our faith
in the light of Christ,
the light no darkness – not even the darkness of death –
can extinguish.

-ConcordPastor