Easter is undeniably the most significant celebration of the Christian faith, as it signifies the renewal of the core elements of our beliefs. These beautiful celebrations are accompanied by rich symbolism and meaningful gestures. The lighting of the Easter candle and proclamation of the Exultet set the tone for a Mass that is a culmination of forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as a preparation for a renewal of our faith in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ (the Paschal Mystery). The candle’s flame is passed from one believer to another, symbolising a hope that will never be extinguished. It is described as “a flame of hope” in the hymn for the Jubilee year 2025: “Like a flame of hope burning, may my song arise to you: Source of life that has no ending, on life’s path I trust in you.” As pilgrims of hope, we are purified and transformed by Christ’s infinite love into flames of hope. Like the Easter candle, whose light is shared from one to another, we become flames that enkindle other flames.
Many Flames, One Faith in Christ
The second verse of the hymn illustrates the unity of God’s children: “Every nation, tongue, and people find a light within your Word. Scattered fragile sons and daughters find a home in your dear Son.” The significance of these words mirrors our reality this year. In a world filled with divisions and suffering, the Easter flames burn brightly across all Christian Churches on the same night, uniting those who are brought together in hope by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a world shattered by divisions and wars, this Easter will be marked by a night of lit candles, symbolising Christ’s peace reigning in the world. The flames from these lit candles will glow brightly around the globe in a unified spirit, professing the same light to the nations, this “light that shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5).
In a world filled with divisions and suffering, the Easter flames burn brightly across all Christian Churches on the same night, uniting those who are brought together in hope by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a world shattered by divisions and wars, this Easter will be marked by a night of lit candles, symbolising Christ’s peace reigning in the world. The flames from these lit candles will glow brightly around the globe in a unified spirit, professing the same light to the nations, this “light that shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5)
Pope Francis, in his bull Spes Non Confundit, invites the Catholic Church to embrace “their Orthodox brothers and sisters in this time when they endure the way of the Cross, often forced to leave their homelands, their holy lands, for safer places.” The Pope emphasizes that solidarity with them in their sufferings during these troubled times will provide “a hope born of the knowledge that they are loved by the Church, which does not abandon them but follows them wherever they go.” For indeed, the “first sign of hope should be the desire for peace in our world” (SNC #5-6). In this Jubilee year of hope our prayer is that many troubled hearts find hope in the risen Lord during our earthly pilgrimage of hope.
Christ, our light in a broken world
The ritual following the lighting of the candle is a procession into a darkened church as the words “Christ our light” are proclaimed three times. A new flame of hope is ignited – an eternal flame that forever extinguishes the power of darkness. The light of Christ rising in glory dispels the darkness of our hearts and minds. The celebrant presiding over the liturgy prays that the fire of glory may be bestowed upon the faithful so they may be inflamed with heavenly desires. As the faithful walk through the church doors, they are reminded that the risen Christ is the door of salvation. Christ breaks the bonds of death, becoming the door that ushers us to the house of our merciful Father, which has an infinite number of rooms. Christ is the door that grants us access to the Easter graces (cf. SNC#2). Being an Easter people in this Jubilee year implies walking in faith, hope, and love through this door, which is Christ. Walking through the Holy doors enables us to embrace the forgiveness of sins. Once forgiven, we are purified by these flames of hope – the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Pilgrims of Hope – an Easter People
We are an Easter people, pilgrims of hope in this world, following the incarnated, crucified and risen Christ, whose own pilgrimage story is narrated in the Gospels. The Gospels then become the source of our renewal. “The Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead, is a message of hope that fulfils the ancient promises, leads to glory, is grounded in love, and does not disappoint” (SNC #2). Martin Kahler captures it well in his affirmation that the Gospels are passion narratives with long introductions, dominated by Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is only from the passion and resurrection that we can make sense of the very precepts of our faith. The Gospels, therefore, enable us to make our daily pilgrimage with Christ so that, like the disciples of Emmaus, Christ can «speak to us on the way and open for us the scriptures» (Lk 29:32). Like them, an encounter with the risen Christ inflames our hearts not only with hope but also with faith and love.
Looking forward with hope
The third verse of the Jubilee hymn reveals the true nature of God: “God, so tender and so patient, dawn of hope, you care for all. Heaven and Earth are recreated by the Spirit of Life set free.” Easter presents us with a privileged opportunity to look forward, anticipating Pentecost – the great outpouring of the flames of the Holy Spirit upon us. Indeed, «hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us» (Rom 5:1-2.5). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, like a bright flame and an ever-burning lamp, illuminates all believers with the light of hope, sustaining and invigorating the lives of Christians with this hope that never disappoints.
Easter presents us with a privileged opportunity to look forward, anticipating Pentecost – the great outpouring of the flames of the Holy Spirit upon us. Indeed, “hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:1-2.5). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, like a bright flame and an ever-burning lamp, illuminates all believers with the light of hope, sustaining and invigorating the lives of Christians with this hope that never disappoints.
The last verse from the hymn of the Jubilee of Hope invites us to look into the future with hope: “Raise your eyes, the wind is blowing, for our God is born in time. Son made man for you and many who will find the way in him. We are, after all, an Easter people, pilgrims of hope in this world. Beyond the darkness, Easter invites us to glimpse at the light of a new dawn and to be convinced that “evangelisation is sustained by the power flowing from Christ’s cross and resurrection” (SNC #4). Consequently, we embark on a journey of hope that enables us to see clearly that the “Christian life is a journey calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps towards the goal of an encounter with Christ” (SNC #5). Just like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, our encounter with Jesus inflames our hearts with a joy so great that we cannot contain it. We set out on a journey of hope, a pilgrimage to go and announce to others that Christ opened our eyes in the “breaking of the bread”.
The role of the Easter people, the Christians, is to rekindle the feeble flames of hope in the vulnerable, using the risen Lord’s eternal flame of God’s infinite and merciful love. These flames of hope are undoubtedly the source of a life that has no ending, a life in the risen Lord.
Pope Francis invites the Church to discover the signs of hope that the Lord offers us by recognizing the immense good present in our world. These signs of hope include a desire for peace globally, an openness to life, and responsible parenthood supported by Christian communities. They also encompass showing mercy to prisoners, the sick at home and in hospitals, youth whose dreams and aspirations are often frustrated, migrants (including exiles, displaced persons, and refugees), the elderly, and above all, billions of poor individuals who frequently lack the essentials of life (cf. SNC #7-15). Many of these individuals live with a flickering flame of hope that is nearly extinguished by currents of suffering, loneliness, and abandonment. The role of the Easter people, the Christians, is to rekindle the feeble flames of hope in the vulnerable, using the risen Lord’s eternal flame of God’s infinite and merciful love. These flames of hope are undoubtedly the source of a life that has no ending, a life in the risen Lord.
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