HOMILY FOR EASTER SUNDAY 

HOMILY FOR EASTER SUNDAY 

THEME: LET THERE BE LIGHT!

BY: Benedict AGBO (Rev Fr)

*Gen 1: 1 – 2, Ex 14: 15 – 15: 1, Is 54: 1 – 6, Rom 6: 3 – 11, Lk 24: 1 – 12.

A. INTRODUCTION
A great silence has descended on the earth since Good Friday as the King of Kings slept in the grave. Good Friday belonged to men. They have acted as they wanted and have no part except to watch in awe and amazement at the marvelous things God was gonno do. But Easter Sunday belonged to God. He had to prove Himself God. Ps 46: 10, Ex 14: 15. Death was swallowed up in victory, 1 Cor 15: 53. Baptism was inaugurated, Rom 6: 1 – 11. And this is our victory ground.
All we need do this night is to understand the theology of light and the theology of deliverance. The rest is application.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY: EASTER SUNDAY YEAR B

Our ‘Exultet’ declaration says it all: ‘Rejoice heavenly powers… for Christ has conquered and darkness has no more place in the world’. We said earlier on at Christmas midnight mass that ‘The people that lived in darkness have seen a great light…’, Is 9: 1 – 2.

B. THEOLOGY OF LIGHT
The 1st reading announces God’s power in creation and this power is most vividly manifested in the creation of light as God’s 1st gift to the world. Let’s take a panoramic view of the scriptures to understand the theology of light;
– Gen 1: 3 – Let there be light… Both at Christmas and at Easter the Church celebrates Christ as the light of the world.
– Ex 3: 2 – God appeared to Moses in the form of light
– Ex 13: 21 – The Lord went in front of the people in the pillar of cloud by day and in the pillar of fire by night to show them the way.
– Ex 19: 18 – The theophanic experience at Mount Sinai: The Mountain was entirely wrapped in smoke because Yahweh had descended upon it in the form of fire (Shekina glory of the Old testament).
– Ezek 10: 18 – This glory was to depart from the temple later when the people of God sinned.
– Is 9: 1 – 2 – The prophesy of the coming of the Messiah is therefore a prophesy of the return of light amidst a people covered with darkness.
– Matt 2: 1 – The wise men saw his star (light) and came to do him homage.
– Jn 1: 9 -10 – The Word (Jesus) was the real light that gives light to everyone… This light shines in the darkness and darkness could not overpower it.
– Jn 8: 12 – I am the light of the world.
– Matt 5: 14 – You are the light of the world.
– Matt 17: 1 – When Jesus was transfigured, his clothes became as dazzling as light.
– Matt 27: 46 – When Jesus was hanging on the Cross, there was darkness over all the land from the 6th to the 9th hour because the light of the world was gone.
– Matt 28: 2 – When Jesus rose his face was like lightening, his robe white as snow.

C. THEOLOGY OF DELIVERANCE
This is the night of freedom from slavery. There are 5 levels of deliverance received in Christ Jesus;
PAST
(a) Deliverance from the devil and his agents, Col 2: 15.
(b) Deliverance from the curse of the law, Gal 3: 13.
PRESENT
(c) Deliverance from self Indulgence, Gal 5: 16.
(d) Deliverance from the world, 1 Jn 2: 15, Jn 16: 33, Jn 18: 38.
FUTURE
(e) Deliverance from death, Heb 2: 14, 1 Cor 15: 55.
Deliverance from slavery has the following 5 dimensions; Spiritual (slavery from the devil), Moral (slavery from the law), Physical (slavery from the flesh), Existential (slavery from the world) and Escatological (slavery from fear of death).
Today’s 4th reading, Rom 6: 3 – 11 says that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized in his death… So that as Christ was raised from the dead we too might live a new life.

D. PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Without the light of Christ, the world would not be a beautiful place.
*The ‘Exultet’ says ‘What good would life have been to us had Christ not come as our redeemer?’
*Just see how life is each time there is power failure for just one night.

Call for positive spirituality – the spirituality of light.
– Rom 12: 21 – Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good… Dedicate yourself as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable… Overcome lust with agape love – a mind setting that is permeated by the Spirit of God.
– 1Pet 4: 8 – Charity (agape love) covers a multitude of sins.
– Gal 5: 19 – 22 – Overcome self Indulgence (immorality, jealousy, quarrels, malice, drunkenness, etc with fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, self control, etc.

E. CONCLUSION
Finally, overcome the devil by thinking less of him and filling yourself with the light of Christ. All we need is true devotion.
In today’s gospel, Lk 24: 1-12, we see the evidence of the empty tomb. Who discovered it? Mary Magdalene – that’s the power of true devotion. The gospel periscope for this evening says that after the Sabbath, at dawn, Mary Magdalene (the greatest lover/devotee of Christ after his death, and the other Mary, went to look (cry) at the tomb. No! It was no longer time for that. They were quickly told by the angel: ‘He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…Go to Galilee. There you will see him’. We need this new movement of faith. We need a paradigm shift in our values now. Yes! Jesus has risen and our lives can never be the same again!

As the story sounds like pure nonsense to unbelievers, it makes real sense to believers who hear the language of faith and those devoted to him. May the light of Christ begin to shine in our hearts to dispel all darkness of sin and faithlessness.
* Song: Lord, the light of your love is shining. In the midst of the darkness shining. Jesus, light of the world shine on upon us; Set us free by the truth you now bring us. Shine on me.. Shine on me…Shine Jesus shine fill this land with the Father’s glory; blaze Spirit blaze set our hearts on fire; Flow, river flow, flood the nation’s with grace and mercy; Send forth your Word, Lord, and let there be light!
Happy Easter beloved friends!

FOR SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>