Archives for April 11, 2009

Devotion

Now there is nothing left that can be done. Yet even in grief, there are details to handle. Joseph tends the body and provides the tomb. The Marys and the other women come and grieve. The Pharisees continue their hatefulness by insisting Pilate provide guards at the tomb. There are always things to do. In a sense, though, it is a time of waiting. Job says humans are “few of days and full of trouble, like a flower that withers.” This has been called the day of atheism. “…We have construed this cold, dark Sabbath as the day of atheism. For now, the solitary sounds to be heard are the throaty cries of triumph from the world’s satanic despots, and strangled wails of disbelief from the indignant, disillusioned victims…” (New Proclamation, Advent through Holy Week, 2008). Yet, dealing with death is part of truly living life. Neither life, nor new life, can be appreciated until we have counted the cost of death. Holy Saturday is essential to hearing the story of resurrection.