As a child, my family attended the 8:00 am Sunday Mass at Saint Columba Catholic Church. Going to the early liturgy, proved to be a greater challenge on the First Sunday of Easter after having attended Holy Saturday's Vigil Mass. Yet, one of my favorite Easter memories is of a solo performed by the parish cantor.
The years have blurred my memory of her name - possibly Carol Bogolin - yet I can still her here clearly and powerfully singing part of the refrain: "
But then comes the morning, yesterdays sorrows behind. W
ake it's the day of your longing. Life returns, mercy comes, it's morning."
Sadly, I have not heard the song since my childhood. After several unsuccessful online searches, I discovered the title, lyrics and writer of what for me resonates with the wonder of Easter.
But Then Comes the Morning
by Jack Miffleton
Look at him stripped on the hill
running the streets poorly clad
robots have taken his job
his hands are outstretched for the nails
REFRAIN: Forgive Lord, forgive.
It was night when we did what we did....
But then comes the morning.
Yesterdays sorrows behind.
Wake it's the day of your longing.
Life returns, mercy comes, it's morning.
Look at him nailed to the cross.
Nailed by our lack of concern
Locked and forgotten in jail
Confined to a home for the aged.
Look at him die on the cross.
Witness man's cruelty to man
Cut down like weeds in our wars
Stabbed on the streets where we live.
The night watch is set at the tomb.
He's buried, not dead but alive.
As long as you did it to these
you also have done it to me.