Globes of Light

The streets reflected the grey of the clouds, and the sidewalks bundled the drizzling rain into puddles. We found double doors on the building's corner only to discover that Mass had already started. The hardwood pews were full, so we sat on the foundations of stone pillars. Evan and I had entered St. Hedwig's Kathedrale, a circular space with a large staircase descending down from its center. A children's choir was singing across the staircase to the Bishop and altar on the opposite side. An organ rimmed with brass hummed its deep accompaniment over the choir's heads. They called it High Mass, but the language was German and the artwork spoke to contemporary Berlin: lots of color and form, but few symbols. The stained glass windows were repeating patterns of squares and I didn't notice a crucifix.

The crowd was punctuated by groups of young men stnading in uniform, with flags that bowed as the Host was consecrated (when the Priest asks God to transform the wine and bread into the body and blood of Jesus). I couldn't understand most of the individual words, but I knew what each new section and gesture meant, and felt the music lifting my heart upwards like the sharp incense billowing out from the altar. At the proclamation of faith, I heard "Brot" then "Tod" and finally "Zuruckkommen." I assumed we were praying this version: "As we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim Christ's death and resurrection until He comes again."

Between each tall window hung a string of glass globes with candle-shaped lights inside. They were a comfort and a warmth on a chilly day, and continued to absorb my attention until after Communion had been given. Then suddenly a bold light flowed in all the windows and the coats and hats of brown and dark purple and green were all covered in a glow. The globes of light and candles were dwarfed, inconsequential compared to the light of the sun.

And so we are the light of the world, candles lit against the dimness, proclaiming that Sunrise will come until its rays really do lift over the edge of the world, consuming us and revealing our true colors.