At the Easter Vigil we hear that God created everything good. Yet, despite its goodness, man sinned and division and separation entered the world. Adam and Eve decided that they weren’t going to do things God’s way. Instead, inspired by Satan, they want to be gods themselves. They don’t want to be told by God that there are things that must be done or can’t be done. Yet, when they choose to sin they discover that they are not gods. In fact, they are now more afraid than ever. They are afraid of God and blame each other and the serpent for their problems. They thought they would understand truth. Instead, they bought a lie.
Jesus lived the truth in every way. He was completely obedient to the Father, despite temptation to do otherwise. Jesus could have chosen the path that Adam and Eve set out. He could have chosen his own convenience and power when

tempted in the desert to turn stones into bread or bow down before Satan to receive power. He didn’t do that. Jesus would never opt for personal comfort over obedience. Today we see where that obedience took him.
Peter and the other apostles were willing to take up arms and fight for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus would have none of it. Pilate was ready to release Jesus. He could have made a deal with Pilate and shared with him who he was and what his intentions were. Pilate was weak enough he probably would have gone for it. Jesus didn’t do that either.
No, Jesus testifies to the truth that we are born into this world owing allegiance to the Father. We die in this world going back to the Father. Everything we do on this earth ought to be a reflection of that movement from God back to God. Jesus testified with his life and with his death that

this is what makes human life meaningful. You and I often choose a very different path.
Tonight we listen once again to the suffering and death of Jesus and might mourn for what occurred. Maybe we are even repentant over what our sins have caused. But in the end, the only real response should be a prayer to help us live the truth that Satan doesn’t want us to live. Our real prayer ought to be, “Help me Lord to be true to the Father like you were. When I am alone or tempted or when I desire revenge, let me seek the way of the Father instead. When I want comfort or power, let me realize I am a humble servant of the Father. When I want revenge let me instead forgive as Jesus did.” If this is our prayer then our celebration has meaning. We will leave in confidence and be able to celebrate the joy of Easter with heart and mind renewed.