Solace Inside the Darkness

4-7-20, Ruminations
 
Dear Friends,
 
            This is Holy Week.  In our Christian tradition, Holy Week is rich with somber meaning.  Beginning with Palm/Passion Sunday, each day of the week is Holy.  Maundy Thursday is a time to reflect on the Last Supper.  Good Friday gives us time to ponder the Crucifixion.  Holy Saturday, as it is known in some Christian traditions, is a day of emptiness, a day of darkness, a day of not knowing. 
            It is said that on this day, Jesus descended into hell to defeat the devil.  It is thought of the day that Jesus rested, and the day the church waits near the tomb.  Other meanings have been imparted onto Holy Saturday, too.  Interestingly, the Bible does not speculate at all about what Jesus “did” on Holy Saturday.  Nonetheless, that has not stopped people from thinking about what might have happened.
            Today, we too imagine the significance of that bleak and empty day.  As we do, we will find solace.  Centuries of Holy Saturday reflections become personal.  We relate to the day’s candle-black, sooty, dusky-hole darkness, of which we have no knowledge.  In the empty places we float, light-less, the voice of Holy Saturday speaks a word of solace.
 
            We hear it say, “Jesus was here, too.”

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"After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.  This is my message for you.’  So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, “'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me'” (Matthew 28.1-10).
 
                                                                        Blessings,
 
                                                                                    Jim
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