Yesterday on Good Friday Jesus ended His earthly life in slow agony on the cross. Today on Holy Saturday, especially during the night, in the words of St Augustine we celebrate the "Mother of all vigils". For tonight the Church keeps watch, waiting for the return of our Lord. In faith we keep vigil recalling the saving death of Jesus and His glorious resurrection.

In the Gospel we are told that Jesus has risen. His Resurrection is confirmed by an empty tomb. The empty tomb is God's radical sign that redemption is not a mere escape to a better world but an extraordinary transformation of this world. Yes, through dying Jesus destroyed our death and through rising He restored our lives. Sin is swallowed up in victory, death does not have the final word. Hope and not despair carries the day. The tree of Adam's defeat has become the tree of Christ's victory.

Therefore let us roll back the stone that covers our hearts and receive the glorious Body of our Risen Lord in a spirit of faith and joy. We must begin anew and let Jesus rise in our hearts.