HOLY SATURDAY 30/03/2024
Scripture reading: Matthew 27:59-61 “Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linen and then laid it in his new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a large stone in front of the entrance of the tomb and left. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were also there and were sitting right in front of the tomb.”
This day is filled with silence and dejection, like a haze of mourning over the land. Joseph of Arimathea, a man of courage and compassion, had the privilege of taking the initiative by requesting Pilate to bury Jesus’ body. Together with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary of Magdalena, he takes care of the body and places it in the tomb. It was a small funeral in our African terms. This small group of people, wounded and tortured by grief, remains behind at the grave, overwhelmed by a sense of loss and emptiness. In silence, they weep with forlorn grief.
In our own time, we are also faced with defeat. I remember how dejected I was at my Father’s grave, how I walked to one side and gave expression to my sense of desolation with bereavement. On Silent Saturday, my thoughts always go out to all those who stood around a grave to lay loved ones to rest. Our inability to say goodbye, to accept, even if we are standing by the grave, is a painful reality for many people. We cannot always find words of comfort, and often silence is the only thing that suits such a sad moment.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, a day of hope and renewal. It reminds us that death does not have the last word. Even amid our mourning and loss, we hold on to hope that light will eventually dispel the darkness. That He died, lay in the grave, and rose to make it possible for our circle to be filled again. One day again, One day again..! In this time, despite our grief, let us pray for all those who after years, days, months, years are still struggling with loss and pain.
Prayer: Loving God, on this Silent Saturday, we come to You with heavy hearts and defeated spirits. Please comfort all who are experiencing the pain of loss and bereavement, especially in this time of restrictions and isolation. Give us the strength to cling to the hope of the resurrection, and to believe that your love and light will illuminate the darkest moments. Amen