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πŸŒ„ Holy Saturday tots

We're getting to the end now! yehey-

Officially, we are on the last day of Lent, on the day after Jesus is buried in the tomb. But instead of waiting three days, the gap between the commemorations of His death and Resurrection is thankfully just one day T-T. I would like to celebrate Easter as soon as possible. And even then, we celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass tonight, so waiting time is cut even shorter. It almost seems like cheating, but I'm not complaining.

Easter Vigil Mass is usually celebrated on Holy Saturday evening, and one the notable differences between the Vigil and the usual Easter morning Mass is definitely the length--here are 7 Old Testament Readings AND 8 Psalms before Paul's Epistle and the Gospel (compared to usual 1 O.T. Reading + 1 Psalm + 1 Epistle + Gospel liturgical combo). The numbers have significance, too:

Note: as an active, practicing Catholic, I find an excellent attention span to be essential for surviving services. add an extra dose of patience and prayer if the service is Filipino T-T

But anyways, in the readings, we follow salvation history from the creation, to Abraham and Isaac, Moses and the Israelites, throughout Isaiah and all the "middle stories." And despite the length, I find it beautiful how we're standing in THE moment--the moment that all those prophets spoke about, and what those before Him could only dream of seeing and living through--which is the Resurrection.

The service first starts in the darkness of a cathedral full of people. All the church lights are off. We're commonly all given candles, and the Paschal Candle (the extra THICK and tall bedazzled candle you see on the altar during the Easter Season), is lit, symbolizing the Light of Christ. Then someone lights their own small candle from its flame, and it is all passed as the procession passes in the middle of the church, till the pews are aglow with the lights of small candle.

Now, it depends on the cathedral and the timing, but in Kuwait, all the lights commonly come back on at the Gloria, which we have fasted from singing during Lent. Gloria in excelsis... and BOOM- LIGHTS- cue the choir singing and the people recovering from slight flashbang while following along. That's my favorite part.

It makes me slightly emotional, as I usually get, since like- this is it, you know. I know Jesus has risen thousands of years ago, but it hits me deeply still; that despite the looming darkness of the world, light is never gone. It is only hidden, and it will always prevail in the end. I know there'll bleak "nights of the soul" (St. Thérèse of Lisieux reference?? my goat???) where I don't deserve that Light, and I'm not the type to turn a blind eye on how ugly situations can be. My logic is, things will never be always good, and it might get worse. But neither will they be always bad. Because I know in Whom my hope lies in, and I know He's won the battle for me already. I just need to keep believing in that victory, and stay on that winning side (easier said than done T-T).

Anyways, I'll close of writing, enough yappa for now. I can't wait to celebrate Easter with yalls, but until then, I'm off. See you in the next one!

BONUS (!!): Matthew 5:16--*Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven."

P.S. can i call you readers my "lights"? idk if it's too early (and presumptuous) to consider fandom names, but then again, it's not my fandom HAHA :P