Easter Eve Sermon – April 4, 2026

Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, as he said!

With these words, the angel is warning the women about the resurrection of Jesus. These words also announce to us that Jesus has risen!

And the truth is, the darkness of death gave way to a light that illuminated the whole world.

We are now certain of victory because Christ has risen!

This is the holiest night of all nights, because our salvation was achieved on this night and continues to be achieved.

We have been delivered from darkness to light, from error to truth, from the bondage of sin to the freedom of God's children.

From the weight of so much sorrow, we have been transformed back to an awareness of the eternal destiny of happiness.

So what is the true joy of Easter? Knowing that Christ conquered death. It wasn't a lie. Jesus rose and lives!

Saint Paul told us that our faith would be in vain if Christ had not risen. For without the resurrection, everything would end in death. But everything is meaningful because with the resurrection we have the hope of an eternal life that will not end in death here.

Our death will be merely a transition to continue experiencing the joy of eternal life with God.

So why should we be happy today?

• Because Christ overcame death and gave us the possibility of true salvation.

  
  

• Because we have also concluded the Fasting Period, a period of preparation for repentance that makes us stronger in confronting our sins.

  
  

• Because sin no longer has power over us. Christ overcame sin, and through His grace we too can overcome it. Christ's victory gives us the courage to face all difficulties.

He overcame something that no king or anyone else in the world could overcome: Death. The angel said to the women in the modern Bible: “Do not be afraid! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, and he is not here.”

And when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, he said, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, where they will see me."

Therefore, as Jesus said, do not be afraid.

Jesus insists that we should not be afraid to seek a sinless life with all our might. Do not be afraid.

To remain steadfast in our faith, let us trust in the resurrection of Jesus and the grace He has given us. Do not be afraid to reject the world and to struggle against sin.

Do not be afraid to embrace the new life that comes through grace. Do not be afraid to proclaim to the world the only Truth that can grant true life that will last forever. Do not be afraid to surrender everything to God.

Do not fear the sufferings of this world, for death is not the end. Everything is temporary. Life here lasts very short compared to what is prepared for us in heaven. We already know what we should do then.

God, in His grace, grants us a new life. This is the most precious treasure we must learn to cherish, every day of our lives until the very last moment.

Not being afraid to fight for a sinless life. We are always seeking confession and communion as weapons to keep us away from the devil. By safeguarding this new life, we can truly be happy and at peace with God and ourselves. And today, Dylan will also attain this new life. Easter Eve is the most opportune time for baptism, because baptism is a transition from death to life. We pass from sin to God's grace. Therefore, when we celebrate Easter, we too pass from death to life. That is the true joy of Easter. Death is no longer the end.

Jesus's invitation to us today is this: not to be afraid and to share true joy with everyone. Jesus told us that He will be with us until the end. Let us not be afraid. May the Virgin Mary help us to always preserve this true joy of the Resurrection. Christ overcame death, and we too can overcome it.

I would like to offer some explanations so that we can better understand today's celebration. As you can see, there is a very long service today. Normally, there are 7 readings from the Old Testament, 1 reading from the New Testament, and 1 reading from the Gospel. All these readings tell the complete story of our salvation, from the creation of the world in Genesis to the resurrection of Christ. The Old Testament readings also speak of the prophets who made prophecies about Christ.

Also, baptisms usually take place during today's service. Because baptism is a resurrection. When we are baptized, we die having sinned and are resurrected into a new life. Therefore, today we renew the vows we made at baptism. In this service, we also have our Easter candle, which represents the Risen Christ. The five beads on the Easter candle, which is normally made of incense, represent the five wounds of Jesus. And the resurrection is such an important feast that the Church celebrates it for eight days.

We will celebrate Easter every day until next Saturday. So rejoice. Because Jesus conquered sin and death, this is a time of joy.