Day 40- Jesus is Buried- Holy Saturday

The three holiest days in the church year begin Thursday evening of Holy Week with the Last Supper and conclude Easter evening, in some churches with an Easter evening worship.  This period is called the "Triduum," or "three days."  It includes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  Some traditions also include an Easter vigil service beginning Saturday evening which leads to the celebration of the resurrection early Easter morning.

Today marks the end of the 40 day Lenten season as well. It is the day we remember our Lord in the tomb.  It is that time when, as we say in the Apostle's Creed, "he descended into hell," or alternately, he "descended to the dead."  There's not agreement on precisely what that means.  It most certainly means he literally died.  He went to the place of the dead.  He fully knows our death, there can be no question about that.

Even more than Good Friday, the significance of Holy Saturday is mostly overlooked. It's a day when my focus, to be honest, is on the day to come.  The Easter garden is set up in church, final plans for Easter Sunday are set in place, I practice my Easter sermon, shopping is done for Easter dinner, etc., etc. What happens on Holy Saturday seems an afterthought. 

So perhaps this year can be different.  This is a holy day of waiting.  Christ's body lay in the tomb, waiting for what was to come.  Our devotion suggests we also reflect on what it means to wait for God.  It's hard to wait.  Waiting often involves uncertainty, and that can be unsettling.  But, wait we must.    I am reminded to have faith that God is always at work, carrying out God's will in my life and in the world in God's time and way.  Jesus waited for resurrection.  We, too, wait for God to act in our lives and to show us His way.