Easter Vigil Mass Sermon – Pope Francis
This is the English translation of the sermon delivered by Pope Francis at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Pope Francis Sermon – Easter Vigil
The Gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ begins with the journey of women to the grave early in the morning on the day after the Sabbath . Go to the grave to honor the Lord’s body , but they have found it open and empty . A mighty angel said to them, “Fear not ! ” (Mt 28:5 ) , and tells them to go and to his disciples : ‘ He has risen from the dead, and indeed He will Galilee ” ( verse 7 ) . The women leave quickly and the way Jesus met them, saying, “Fear not : Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee , there they will see me ” (v. 10) . “Fear not,” “no fear” : These are words that encourage us to open our hearts to the message.
After the death of the Master, the disciples were scattered ; their beliefs were completely shocked , seemed all over, all certainties were crumbling and their hope had died . But now, the message to women , as incredible as it was , she was like a ray of light in the darkness. The news spread : Jesus is risen, as he said. And then there was his command to go to Galilee ; Women had to hear it twice, first by the angels and Jesus himself : ” . Allow them to go to Galilee , and there they will see me ” “Fear not ” and ” go to Galilee . “
Galilee is the place where they were called , where it all began ! Getting back to the place where they originally back . Return Jesus had gone on the shore of the lake as fishermen cast their nets . He had called them, and they left everything and followed him ( cf. Mt 4:18-22 ) .
To return to Galilee read all means based on the cross and his victory , fearlessly . ” Fear not ” rereading all – Jesus’ preaching , miracles , the new community , the excitement and the waste , and betrayal – read everything from the end is a new beginning , this supreme act of love.
For each of us there is also a ” Galilean ” at the origin of our journey with Jesus. ” To Galilee ” something beautiful, means rediscovering our baptism as a source of life , drawing new energy from the sources of our faith and our Christian experience. To return to Galilee , basically means on the burning light that the grace of God touched me again at the beginning of the journey. From this flame I can get a fire for today and every day, and bring warmth and light to my brothers and sisters. The flame ignites a modest joy , a joy that grief and misery can not discourage a good, gentle joy .
In the life of every Christian , by baptism , there is also a ” Galilee ,” an existential ” Galilee ” : the experience of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, who invited me to follow him and to share in his mission. In this sense , returned to Galilee means appreciate in my heart the vivid memory of this conversation , when Jesus died my way , looked at me with pity and asked me to follow him. To ‘by reviving the memory of that moment when his eyes to me , hit he made the moment I realized that he loved me back .
Today , tonight , anyone can ask of ourselves: What is my Galilee ? I must remember to go back and remember. Where is my Galilee ? Do I have to ? Did I forget ? Seek and ye shall find ! It is the Lord , waiting for you . I left on roads and paths forgotten me? Lord, help me, tell me what my Galilee ; because you know I will come back to you and let your mercy from me hugs . Have no fear, no fear , returned to Galilee !
The Gospel is very clear: we have to go to see Jesus is risen, and witnesses back of his resurrection . This is not going back in time; it is not a kind of nostalgia. It is to return to our first love in order to get the fire that Jesus has the world lights up again and bring to the ends of the earth. This fire for all people Go back to Galilee without fear !
” Galilee of the Gentiles” ( Mt 04:15 Clock Is 8.23) ! Horizon of the Risen Lord , the horizon of the Church; intense desire of meeting … Let ‘s Go!
