Homily given by Archbishop Anthony Randazzo
Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts & Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay
Easter Vigil 2026
4 April 2026
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was a formless void; there was darkness over the deep” (Genesis 1:1–2).
Tonight, my dear people, as we gather in this cathedral, these words from the Book of Genesis remind us of God’s first act: bringing order, life, and light out of chaos. God looked upon the world and said it was very good. This was the first peace, the deep shalom of God, a harmony in which everything was in its proper place, living according to God’s wisdom.
Peace, in its truest sense, is not merely the absence of conflict, but the flourishing of life in right relationship with God, with one another, and with creation itself. And yet, we know that our world often looks more like that “formless void” than God’s original creation.
Conflict, division, anxiety, and injustice surround us. Fear and uncertainty can weigh heavily on our hearts. And so, the promise of peace can feel distant, almost fragile. However, just as God brought light and life out of darkness in Genesis, God brings new creation out of the chaos of sin and death through the Resurrection of Jesus.
The empty tomb is our “Let there be light.” Easter is not simply a remembrance; it is the dawn of a world renewed. In the risen Christ, disorder becomes reconciliation, death becomes life, fear becomes peace.
To our catechumens and candidates who are about to be fully initiated into the Church: tonight, you will receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, or in the case of some of you, Confirmation and Eucharist. You are not simply joining a community; you are being configured anew into the Body of Christ. Through Baptism, you are united with Christ in his death and Resurrection, buried to sin and raised to new life, so that you may walk in God’s peace and live forever in him (cf Romans 6:3–11).
As the Prophet Baruch reminds us, peace is discovered when we listen to God’s wisdom and walk in God’s ways: “Listen to the commands that bring life” (Baruch 3:9), and “had you walked in the way of God, you would have found peace” (Baruch 9:13). The promise does not end there: “Blessed are we: what pleases God has been revealed to us” (Baruch 4:4). Peace is not hidden. It is given to those who receive God’s Word and live in God’s light.
The Evangelist Matthew reveals to us this same peace in the face of fear when in the Gospel we see, the angel at the tomb who spoke to the women, “There is no need for you to be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). And the risen Jesus meets them with reassurance, transforming fear into joy.
The peace of Jesus Christ is not a fragile calm; it is a presence that overcomes death, doubt, and uncertainty, and sends us forth with confidence to proclaim the Good News. This peace, the gift of the Resurrection, is also our mission. Each of us, baptised into Christ, is called to be an agent of God’s peace: to bring light into darkness, to restore relationships, to live in harmony with God’s creation.
Cody, K'San, William, Darcie, Hailey, Kevin, Ashley, Andrew, Lydia, Vanessa, Jessica, Te-Jen, Caelum, Caius: you are being initiated as Catholic Christians tonight. Discipleship is not for the faint-hearted. At times your journey of faith will not be easy. And yet the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now dwells within you. Once reborn in Jesus our Saviour, you will be sent forth to enrich the whole Body of Christ, so that we, the People of God, may be renewed together.
The prophet Isaiah reminds us of God’s promise: “Come to me; listen, and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 55:3), and “you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace” (Isaiah 55:12).
Listen to God’s voice in Baptism. Allow yourself to be shaped by the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. Receive Jesus the Bread of Life in the Eucharist and carry Christ’s presence into the world.
Tonight, through light, Word, water, and Eucharist, the whole Church is immersed in the Paschal Mystery. And so, as we celebrate, we are reminded: Easter is not only for the newly baptised, confirmed, and nourished at the altar of the Lord. It is for all of us. Each time we rise with Christ, we are sent forth anew to live as disciples in the world. This is our call. This is our ultimate vocation: a life of holiness, courage, and peace.
My brothers and sisters may the peace of Christ, risen and victorious, dwell in your hearts. May it guide your steps, strengthen your faith, and fill your lives with joy, so that in all things, God’s light shines through you.
And may we, together, be a sign of God’s restored peace in the world, bringing hope to every corner of creation. Christ is risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!