Destruction of Darkness & Exultation of Light!

There’s a movie out that I just got around to seeing the other night. It’s called The Seeker: The Dark is Rising. It’s your basic good vs. evil tale of an unsuspecting young boy who holds the power to save the world if only he can believe in himself enough to use it for good. The movie was ok – nothing special really – but there was this one scene at the end that really struck me. The Rider (representing darkness) comes at The Seeker, Will (representing light) and throws all of his darkness at him. It threatens to engulf Will, but he, being light, pushes back the darkness until it is no more.

I thought about that scene since today – the day that we remember Jesus’ victory over darkness, death and the grave – marks the day that Light won. Today was a day of triumph and celebration because the darkness was conquered. Even though it often looks as if darkness is winning and there is not much hope or good left in the world, we can hold fast to the reality that Light has already won over darkness. Darkness can never completely overcome, because all it takes is just the strike of a match, or the gleam of a star in the blackness.

I love how John puts it in the first chapter of his book – “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn’t make. Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, Church! Exult in glory! The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy, Echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!

It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father, and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price of Adam’s sin to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night when first you saved our fathers: you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea. This is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer?

Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says: “The night will be as clear as day: it will become my light, my joy.”

The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth and man is reconciled with God! Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, receive our evening sacrifice of praise, your Church’s solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle, a flame divided but undimmed, a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning: Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed his peaceful light on all mankind, your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
— Exsultet from www.catholic.org