Beloved, this once was a night of death. This was the night of the plagues, when the avenging angel struck down the first-born in Egypt. But this is the night of the Passover, when the blood of the lambs saved Israel’s children from death. This once was the night of darkness, in a world shrouded in the darkness of sin – hatred and violence, insolence and unbelief. But it has become for us a night of light. This is the night when the first flame kindles the Paschal Candle, connecting Baptisms and funerals, birth and death, to Jesus’ resurrection.   This is the night when time is renewed. This is the night when we behold the wounds of Jesus with joy. This is the…