Day 40:Holy Saturday

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“Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen,they went to the tomb." ~Mark 16:1-2






The Gospel reading for today speaks of Jesus’ resurrection, but “Holy Saturday” is traditionally when we remember Jesus’ time in the grave (“he was crucified, died and was buried…”). We know the hope of resurrection in Jesus, but we’re not there yet. This place, "this wax-crayon place of trust and waiting, of accepting what we cannot know, mourning what needs to be mourned, and hoping for what seems impossible..." (Jerusalem Jackson Greer). This is the tension—the “in-between” tension—of Holy Saturday. And it’s where we Christians live.

Lord Jesus help me to wait here
In the in-between
Of Holy Saturday.
For I cannot help but rejoice – you have come!
And yet still I grieve – for the world still waits -
You have yet to come.
Lord Jesus help me to pray here
In the in-between
Of Holy Saturday.
For you are risen and I can’t, won’t, don’t want to forget it -
And yet I mourn with those who still wait
For your kingdom’s fullness of peace, hope and justice.
Lord Jesus help me to live here
In the in-between
Of Holy Saturday.
For your kingdom has come and is yet to come.
And I, in some small way,
Hope to build – with you – all things new.
                               ~www.thesanctuarycentre.org



Prayer (by Vienna Cobb Anderson):

Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love. Amen.





("And Can it Be?" written by Charles Wesley)

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