The tomb was nearby; they laid Jesus there. John 20:42
Apparently today, Holy Saturday, is also called the Great Sabbath because...well, if you're dead you're totally at rest and therefore it doesn't get much more sabbath-like than that. Jesus' body was in the tomb today, dead. This is a quiet day, I think....for reflection, waiting, anticipation....A sacred pause between death and the resurrection tomorrow morning.
I really like the planted seed analogy for this day: when you plant a seed, it dies and there's not a lot going on above the ground for a while--but underneath all kinds of stuff is developing. Some of the early Christian writings say that on Holy Saturday, while he was dead to this world, Jesus "descended into hell" to liberate those who died before--to wake them from the sleep of death to rise and follow him into fullness of life.
Whether you understand that literally or figuratively, the point is that God, in the Risen Christ, longed to liberate us from our hell--our personal hell, our communal hell, our political hell. Holy Saturday proclaims to us that the life, mercy, and light of God diffuses every single dark hell we can think of or get entangled in.
The divine truth is that we were not created to be captives in hell: let that sink into your brain, your body, your very bones. Because when we begin to know this deeply, we come to know the inner liberation that leads us to speak truth in love, take risks, and desire freedom for all who are captive.
Holy Undying One, have mercy on us.
God, I know that You did not create me to be a captive; may your liberating grace and mercy guide me to seek the freedom to love in your Name, and to stand with those who are not yet free. Amen.
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