Saturday
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that
impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and
the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So, they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. Matthew 27:62-66
The text above is the only word we have about Saturday after the death of Jesus. The only word is about his enemies, their unbelief and fear. From the disciples, from
the Gospel writers we hear nothing about those who loved the Savior. There is only…silence.
We can imagine. The disciples tried to sleep Friday night, their minds and hearts racing, playing over and over again the events of the day before, searching into
their memories trying to recollect the words of their Master, their friend. Is this what He meant? Is this what He was preparing us for?
As they awaken to the clouds of Saturday’s mysteries, they must have hoped it was all a bad dream…maybe it was…maybe when they awaken, He will be there and they will
continue with Him. But no…it was not a dream, this happened. There is a new reality, but what were they to do with it. Saturday brought no answers, only deepened the darkness.
Holy Saturday calls us to enter into the unknown, to feel what the disciples felt and to be still. Don’t rush too quickly to Sunday morning, allow the reality of death, not
only Christ’s but yours to make its imprint. Death is not something that we like to think about, in fact, modern man will choose to think about anything other than that which is inevitable. Everything we fear, every struggle we have, is in some way attached
to the fear of losing our life. This fear has been responsible for much of man’s lust, greed, and arrogance. And although it is the one inevitable reality we all will face, we try to ignore it as much as possible. Yet, whatever we look to, money, joy, fulfillment,
success, physical beauty, strength, our mental competency and agility, everything that we have and use to define ourselves, slips away from us with time. Our lives are limited.
The search that death’s reality puts us on is that for meaning and purpose; And “under the sun” as the preacher of Ecclesiastes puts it, that purpose and meaning cannot
be found. The longing for the answer is what Holy Saturday is about. The realization that as we are left alone, as we are left to ourselves, the answer will forever allude us.
During these days of quarantine and limited movement, some Christian leaders have concluded that the Lord is allowing a famine of worship to take place so that we might emerge
realizing its importance and prominence. Perhaps. In like manner, Holy Saturday’s silence must deepen within us so that the answer that comes with the break of Easter morn might never again be taken for granted by us. Rather, we would spend all our days contemplating,
rejoicing and marveling at the victory of Love, who has a Name.
But for today it is ok, in fact, it is necessary for us to swim in the depth of mystery, to think seriously about life’s end and to contemplate the silence.
Prayer: My Lord, today all is silent. You have given Your precious life for the salvation of the world. You died a horrific death, poured out all Mercy from
Your wounded Heart, and now You rest in peace in the tomb as the soldiers keep vigil.Lord, may I also keep vigil with You as You sleep. I know that this day ends with Your glorious triumph, Your victory over sin and death. But for now, I sit quietly mourning
Your death. Help me, dear Lord, to enter into the sorrow and the silence of this Holy Saturday. Today no Sacraments are celebrated. Today there are no liturgical celebrations. Today the world waits in mourning. As I keep vigil, fill me with hope. Help me
to look forward to the celebration of Your Resurrection, but also to look forward to the hope of my own share in the new life You won for the world. I entrust my whole being to You, Lord, as You lay lifeless and still. May Your rest transform the brokenness
of my own soul, my weaknesses, my sin and my frailty. You are glorious and You bring the greatest good out of Your apparent defeat. I trust in Your power to do all things and I entrust my life to You. Lord, to whom shall I go? Jesus, I trust in You and pray
in your holy and matchless name, Amen.
Hymn: Psalm 22