Happy start to the week, everyone! These past few days have been very special as I sat down to write for my blog on Hive, since I relived every moment of Holy Week, and today it’s time to wrap up this recap by sharing my thoughts on last Sunday, Easter Sunday.
I don’t know if it was because of the church we attend or simply the sense of connection that comes from a week of prayer and reflection accompanying every event in our Catholic faith, but that day at noon there weren’t many people in the church, and the celebration was magnificent. As you can see in the photos, especially the first one, the church was more beautiful than usual, very elegant and well-lit. In fact, I was able to take that picture because my mom and I were the first two people to enter; I thought it would be packed with people just like the rest of the week, but it wasn’t.
That day I realized that the excitement and the crowds from the previous days were all about the traditions and the events. People like to attend the processions, visit the seven churches, and even the Easter Vigil where the fire is lit, but not everyone makes it to the most important day of Holy Week, Easter, which gives meaning to our religion and signifies being reborn in the faith, as well as growing as people. Over the years, I’ve come to understand that everyone has their own way of seeing and understanding life, and also what is true, what is false, and everything whose meaning I’ll never know for certain, but it’s beautiful to be part of something, something that fills my soul and makes me a better person every day, whether as a source of support, a reminder, or because I truly surrender myself to God and His will each day.
I’ve already shown you this church before here on my blog, though this is the first time for the Sublime Sunday Community. It’s the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in La Hoyada, Caracas. A place that captivated me last year when I first saw it, and ever since then I knew I’d have to bring my mom there someday, that she’d love it just as much as I do for its design and beauty, not to mention the positive energy of the parishioners there...
I’m sure we chose a special place to start our Sunday, and the rest of the day was simply wonderful. In addition to attending church, we celebrated with a delicious lunch at a very nice spot in downtown Caracas, and we felt so at peace that we didn’t even take any photos of the moment. We just spent our time sharing stories about what we’d experienced that week and savoring our meal. Sadly, Easter Sunday also marked the last day of our vacation, and before sunset, my mom would have to head back to our hometown.
It’s hard for me; I don’t like her traveling alone, even though I know both cities are very close—just an hour and a half apart—but that’s enough to make us feel distant and go some time without seeing each other. What put my mind at ease is that she left Caracas happy and felt like part of the family with the two of us, and even some of my friends from the choir, which is what I most want to give her every day: good, wholesome company, along with beautiful experiences, even if the budget isn’t the best 😅
And so my Holy Week and my vacation came to an end, with one of the most sublime Sundays I’ve ever experienced. As soon as I found out my mom had arrived home, I fell asleep before nightfall and didn’t wake up until the next morning; I think I slept for 13 hours, which is completely out of character for me, but it’s a sign of inner peace, because that’s how I’ve felt ever since. I feel like I’ve been resurrected alongside Christ, and I’m always ready to let go of my past selves and improve every day. There’s still a lot to do this April, but I’m going in with all my energy and a desire to give my best 🙏
