Carol Zuegner reminds us that Holy Saturday is a day like no other in the Church calendar.
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| Quiet of Holy Saturday |
There are no liturgies or readings for today.
On this day, we wait. Christ has died. We know he comes again. We know there will be the Resurrection. I was trying to imagine what this day was like for Mary, for the disciples and followers of Jesus. I am sure they believed in what he said. In the darkness of this time, in the sadness and grief, in that great hole of loss, I hope their faith offered a glimmer of hope and of light.
We fear death and sometimes have trouble coming to grips with our own mortality. That should serve as a touchpoint as we truly let the message and meaning of Christ’s death sink in: Jesus became fully human, yes, fully human and died for us so that we might live and that we might have everlasting life with him. That is our light and our hope.1
We await the Easter Vigil after sunset tonight. Creighton University Online Ministries offers a guideline for “Preparing for the Easter Vigil.” The texts from the Hebrew Testament and the Christian Testament proclaimed tonight are listed below.
Don Schwager quotes “The victory of the Lamb of God,” in a sermon by Melito of Sardis, died 180 A.D.
When the Lord had clothed himself with humanity, and had suffered for the sake of the sufferer, and had been bound for the sake of the imprisoned, and had been judged for the sake of the condemned, and buried for the sake of the one who was buried, he rose from the dead, and cried aloud with this voice: "Who is the one who contends with me? Let him stand in opposition to me. I have set the condemned man free; I have given the dead man life; I have raised up the one who had been entombed. Who is my opponent? 'I', he says, 'am the Christ'. I am the one who destroyed death, and triumphed over the enemy, and trampled Hades under foot, and bound the strong one, and carried off man to the heights of heaven'. ‘I', he says, 'am the Christ'. "Therefore, come, all families of men, you who have been befouled with sins, and receive forgiveness for your sins. I am your forgiveness. I am the Passover of your salvation, I am your light, I am your savior, I am your resurrection, I am your king. I am leading you up to the heights of heaven, I will show you the eternal Father, I will raise you up by my right hand". This is the one who made the heaven and the earth, and who in the beginning created man, who was proclaimed through the law and the prophets, who became human through the virgin, who was hanged upon a tree, who was buried in the earth, who was resurrected to the heights of heaven, who sits at the right hand of the Father, who has authority to judge and to save everything, from the beginning of the world to the end of the age. This is the alpha and the omega, this is the beginning and the end - an indescribable beginning, and an incomprehensible end. This is the Christ. This is the king. This is Jesus. This is the general. This is the Lord. This is the one who sits at the right hand of the Father, to whom be the glory and the power for ever. Amen.2
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 1:1–2:2 comments Light is a theme that runs through the Easter Vigil in a dramatic way. (a full description of the Easter Vigil Liturgy is on this site) Try to picture what it might be like for someone attending this service for the first time.
All of these blessings started with God’s words, “Let there be light!” And they come to fulfillment as the light of Easter morning dawns upon the world. So as this season of light begins anew, we pray that the risen Christ will shine in your heart brighter than ever before.3
Friar Jude Winkler adds some traditional and theological detail to the readings from the Easter Vigil. In the Resurrection, we commit to live in Christ. Friar Jude highlights some of the unique aspects of the Resurrection account of Matthew.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares a teaching from the desert fathers, “an old Desert Father was asked what was necessary to do to be saved. He was sitting making rope. Without glancing up, he said, “You’re looking at it.” [1] Just as so many of the mystics have taught us, doing what we are doing with presence and intention is itself prayer.
At this time of social distancing, I want to emphasize contemplative insights and practices that help us heal our sense of separation and isolation, promote connection and awaken a sense of creativity and responsibility for all beings.
People in almost every faith tradition across the world have ways of hanging simple objects as expressions of prayer, sending forth love, courage and healing into the world. Many churches celebrate Advent and Lent by tying ribbons, banners or cloth around trees to enrich the celebration. As Easter approaches, perhaps this practice will help you in your embrace of new life and resurrection. The Lakota and Cherokee people use prayer ties (tobacco or cornmeal wrapped in cloth) as offerings of prayers, intentions, and gratitude, tying them to trees or leaving them in sacred places. All who come in contact with the prayer ties are blessed by the intentions and prayers. In Ireland, Scotland and Wales people tie strips of colored cloth called “clooties,” to ask for blessings. Buddhist prayer flags hold prayers blown by the wind to promote peace, compassion and wisdom.4
Our invitation is to prepare for Easter through the readings of the Easter Vigil.
References
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