Some of my favorite moments of the entire year are all contained in this one liturgy: the marking of the candle "Christ yesterday and today... All time belongs to Him, and all ages..."; the Exultet, of course; the renewal of baptismal promises; the Canon with its propers....

But this year, the most profound moment by far came at the very beginning. With an empty church, in complete darkness aside from the sanctuary light, I took a few moments to pray.

Normally, I would be giving final reminders to the servers, greeting the Elect and their sponsors, or making sure the guests and other attendees weren't tripping in the darkness. But this year, those duties were not present. I had a moment to reflect on what I was about to do.

I recalled my visits to the Holy Land, the most recent of which was last July, when I had perhaps the greatest privilege of my priesthood: the opportunity to celebrate Holy Mass in the Aedicule of the Holy Sepulchre, with the very Tomb of the Lord as the altar. What a blessing.

Even more profoundly, I recalled the Apostles, imagining what it must have been like to celebrate that first Easter after the Ascension: the simplicity and spontaneity – the *genuineness* of it, and the profound faith to proclaim as Risen the One no longer with them in the flesh.

Then I briefly reflected upon all of those Easter nights between that second one and this most recent: all of the great statements of faith and hope resounding through the ages, echoing throughout time and eternity, awaiting anxiously the day of that final and forever Easter.

And finally, I recalled all of those who this Easter are lost in darkness, whether because of COVID-19 or something else. I could sense the closeness of the Lord, there in the darkness, awaiting the dawning of the light, as if He said, "I am here. Trust me."

It was a profound moment, but brief, as I had to begin the liturgy. However, I'll return to it again in prayer, I have no doubt.

A blessed and joyful Easter to you and yours!

P.S. An Easter Vigil at 75 minutes – with all the readings, literally nothing shortened – is certainly something.