“They Rested”

Holy Saturday

April 11, 2020

“On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”

— Luke 23:56b — 

There’s a pause between the somber reflections of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and the rapturous celebrations of Easter Sunday. That pause is Holy Saturday. 

And, if our Holy Saturdays are typically silent, how much more so this year. And that first Holy Saturday was just the same. These grieving, scared Jewish men and women returned to their homes, or whatever place in Jerusalem they were residing, to observe Sabbath rest. 

This day echoes with silence. Like the master-less disciples, today we rest restlessly in fear and uncertainty. 

Rather than fast-forwarding to Easter’s triumph and joy, rest here now, in the quiet. 

Prayer

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How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
alight up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

— Psalm 22 —