The Resurrection of the Lord
As a kid, my favorite Mass was the “Resurrection Mass” – the one that started at 5 AM and ended with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of my small town in Brazil. Afterward, we’d gather in the town square for a big breakfast where everyone was welcome. I remember waking up in the dark, bundled up, knowing it was something special.
Honestly, as a child, I didn’t understand everything yet, but I still enjoyed the whole Mass, although I was mostly looking forward to the end – when it would finally be light out, the sun rising, the birds singing loudly (in my head they were finally singing the “Halleluiah” that we waited so long to sing again!), and we could not only smell the amazing breakfast but also eat it. But even then, something about that morning felt sacred, and it made me understand, even at a young age. The candlelight and bells during Adoration, the incense, the silence, the birds waking up and starting to sing outside, the solemn music on the inside, and the sun starting to rise and warm us up inside as we finished our Adoration – it was all part of something deeper.
As I grew older, that same Mass became even more meaningful to me. I began to understand even more the mystery of Easter. I no longer just looked forward to the ending – I learned to live the whole moment. The Mass beginning in darkness has always stuck with me. It wasn’t just about the time – it was about the journey. Entering the dark with Jesus and then being there when the light comes – when the sun rises and the Alleluia returns – became a deep symbol for me of what Easter truly means.
That early morning darkness mirrors the tomb. And that first light? That’s the Resurrection. That’s the joy. That’s the promise fulfilled. We don’t just celebrate that Jesus rose – we stand in the darkness and wait for Him to rise again in our own lives, year after year. Like Mary Magdalene in the Gospel, when she discovers the empty tomb and runs to inform Peter and the beloved disciple, we should be filled with joy and ready to run and announce that He is alive!
Even though I moved to a different country and can’t attend that same Mass anymore, I still cultivate that feeling in my heart every Easter. Every year, that memory returns to me, and I relive that holy morning – the light breaking through the dark, the town gathered in joy, and the quiet, steady truth: HE IS ALIVE!!!!!
Easter isn’t just the biggest feast of the year for us Catholics – it’s the very heart of our faith. And that 5 AM Mass, in its simplicity and beauty, taught me to live it not just once a year, but every time I find myself walking through darkness – knowing the light is coming. So, on this Easter Day, this Easter season, let’s pray that we always wake up early in our heart to welcome the Risen Lord with joy!!