Holy Saturday 2022 The silence of the tomb, with its coldness and emptiness points to nothingness. Jesus’ body cold, empty, rest on the stone slab, alone, as we all are in death. Evil won it seemed, an innocent betrayed, abandoned by his followers, denied by the one picked to lead, yes, it was over, evil won. Yet in prayer, we wait, our churches empty of the Eucharistic presence, Let us wait for the dawn and see what that brings!-Br.MD
One time ,many , many years ago I wandered far above the Garden of Olives up a hill and through a little Palestinian village. It was so hot! Way over 40C and so dusty, it felt like the air itself was melting. But as I passed the village I encountered a very large German Lutheran Church. So big it might well have been a Basillica. Very Modern and craggy stone like a cliff face . Beautiful gardens all around , but so lonely , not a single soul! (so unusual in Jerusalem, especially in religious sites like this). I tried the door expecting it to be locked (So sad Protestant Churches all seem to be locked except for Sundays..such a waste). But the door opened! So beautiful within. It was huge and cost a fortune. But totally, totally deserted. The first thing I noticed as I always do in poor Protestant Churches was the absence of the Eucharistic Christ. That fire, that warmth of love, that heat. The fireplace that warms the whole house. That enfires the soul, forcing us to kneel and stop and pray. Without that? An empty tomb. I thought of that big old Lutheran Tomb today on Holy Saturday. Huge and beautiful and so empty and lonely..and waiting..waiting for its Eucharistic Lord. Marana tha. Come Lord Jesus. It is called the after the wife of Kaiser Wilhelm... which they opened together in the 1800's, the first Western Rulers to visit Jerusalem since the Crusades. The Augusta Victoria, 'Hospital' An empty tomb.
The Fire. The Bread of Life. The entire centre of our Mystical Life. The Staff of Life. Abundant Joy. He Died. That we might live.
This ancient homily read at the Morning prayer always moves me. To know Christ first descended into Hell to free Adam and all the other souls who were languishing there, is such an amazing thought/vision. Jesus takes them out of bondage. I see this Easter and resurrection… the same for all of us. Jesus comes to free us from whatever “hells” we have created so that even now on earth we can experience and taste heaven. Peace From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday The Lord's descent into the underworld Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden. See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.
Thank you for the above, Mark. It is so unusual on Holy Saturday to prepare for the Vigil in a church void of the Bread of Life. I guess it is a precious gift, the habit of attentive awareness of his closeness and proximity, so that when His Eucharistic Presence has temporarily been "placed in the grave," one can be reminded of the unfathomable gift. And yet, we as disciples must always seek to treat each person similarly, for Jesus longs for each soul more than we even long for Him.
nice to hear from you Terry. I believe either the Cantor or Deacon proclaim the Exsultet tonight at the Vigil. Will you have that honored. I really love it , especially when sung. I’m looking forward to going to our parish vigil.
