Easter Joy

My favorite Mass of the year is the Easter Vigil. I go every year, because there is something that calls me back. It’s nothing compared to the going to Mass on Easter morning. The thing that calls me back is joy.

It’s joy to see the Church lit by individual candles that represent Christ being our light. It’s joy hearing about our history. It’s joy singing the Gloria while bells are ringing, the lights are turned on, and the black cloth removed from the risen Christ is removed. It’s joy when people feel God’s call and are made a member of the body of Christ, even if that did not happen this year. It’s joy being refreshed with new water, and renewing our faith in God with our baptismal promises. It’s joy hearing uplifting music. It’s joy singing so many “Alleluia’s”. Those are just the big things. There are small things as well.

It’s joy being able to smell spring, and Easter flowers. It’s joy being able to sing and worship God with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s joy being filled with Easter joy. It’s joy seeing the same people each and every year who are also drawn to the same joy as I am.

May that Easter joy fill our hearts and souls for many days to come.