On Friday afternoon, Darkness had its hour. 

El viernes por la tarde, la oscuridad tuvo su hora.

The sun was eclipsed, and the whole world grew dark. Jesus, the Light of the World, died.

Jesús, la luz del mundo… murió.

This candle that burned so bright… was abruptly and cruelly snuffed out… by us. His body was then buried in a pitch-black tomb. All light from the sun was completely sealed off from His limp, lifeless corpse.

Night had apparently won.

But then, something new happened.

Pero de repente, sucedió algo nuevo.

Just before daybreak — on the first day of the week — A great BURST of light — hidden, unseen, unobserved — ERUPTED from within that sealed pitch-black tomb.

Un gran estallido de luz surgió de la oscura tumba.

Evidently, even the burial cloths themselves got zapped by this insane, sudden BURST of light! We can get a little glimpse of what this might have been like when we study the Shroud of Turin, which many people (myself included) claim is the actual burial cloth of Jesus Christ.

Did you know that researchers have estimated that in order for the miraculous image to be imprinted on the Shroud of Turin the way that it is — would have required 6-8 BILLION watts of light energy?

Los científicos afirman que para crear la imagen milagrosa del Santo Sudario de Turín se necesitaron ocho mil millones de vatios de luz.

Just for reference, the average Keurig uses about 1,500 watts of electricity to make one cup of coffee… so 8 BILLION watts would be enough to make you 5,333,333 cups of coffee.

They also say that this great burst of light only lasted less than one forty-BILLIONTH of a second!

Dicen también que este estallido de luz sólo dura una cuarenta mil millonésima parte de un segundo.

THAT IS INSANE.

But it changed everything.

One forty-billionth of a second later — Darkness was forever defeated by the LIGHT of the Resurrection.

“LET THERE BE LIGHT” God spoke in the Beginning… 

…and there was Light.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Tonight — this most holy Easter Vigil — is all about Light.

El mensaje central de la Vigilia Pascual es la Luz.

The Light of Christ… 

Luz de Cristo.

Lumen Christi.

Jesus Christ is risen!!!!!

HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!!!

Jesús ha resucitado!!!!! ALLELUIA!

And we believe that this great burst of RESURRECTION light is bright enough to break through any darkness that we will ever face.

This BURST of RESURRECTION LIGHT scatters darkness in an instant.

Think about it:

The speed of light is SO fast that as SOON as a light is switched on, it IMMEDIATELY fills an entire room doesn’t it? The light particles don’t waste any time sitting around. The photons don’t hesitate and wonder to themselves: “Hmmm… should I go over to that dark corner of the room now? Or maybe that patch of shadow over there?”

NO… LIGHT goes EVERYWHERE…. Instantaneously!!!! 

It’s immediate. 

With one flip of a switch, darkness is promptly BANISHED and cast out.

THAT is the power of the Resurrection.

DARKNESS is banished.

It is no longer welcome here.

The LIGHT is now ON forever… 

JESUS IS ALIVE. 

Look at the Easter Candle — It is BURNING bright…

So now… if we do happen to find darkness anywhere… whether out there in the world… or inside of our own hearts… all we have to do is allow that same BURST of Resurrection Light stream forth into it.

In fact, in just a few moments, we’re gonna do that with three young children, who will approach the waters of Baptism.

En tan solo unos momentos, tres niños van a recibir esta misma explosión de luz de resurrección en sus vidas.

They will receive this same LIGHT OF CHRIST — the same BURST of RESURRECTION LIGHT…. INSIDE of THEM!

And it will happen — BAM…. Just like that!!!!!

In less than one forty-billionth of a second!

A great FLASH of 8 BILLION supernatural watts grace will ZAP these kids!

…As soon as those words: “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” come out of my mouth —

Con las palabras “Yo te bautizo en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo”… ¡las tinieblas se van a dispersar!

Darkness will scatter!

The LIGHT will enter!!!!!

Because Jesus died for us, and is now alive again.

The LIGHT of CHRIST has dawned.

Easter is officially here.

ALLELUIA…