John 19:41-42

Stop.

As you breathe in, say “I am here”. As you breathe out, say “The world waits for you”. Repeat as many times as you need.

Listen.

Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. – John 19:41-42

Reflect.

Sometimes, it feels a little bit like Christians missed something on this day. We had Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, but then there’s…Holy Saturday. I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t know that this day can even be called Holy Saturday, because it doesn’t often mean anything in the cycle of Holy Week services. This the day between Jesus’ death and his resurrection. It’s the day Jesus is in the tomb. It’s the day his disciples thought everything had been for nothing. It’s the day the empire thought it had succeeded and the enemies breathed a sigh of relief.

We may not mark the day with a worship service, but there’s still a lot to consider on this day.

There is one kind of worship service that sometimes happens on this day. In some traditions and congregations, the evening of Holy Saturday leads to an Easter Vigil. The church gathers in the dark. They hear the stories of the many times throughout history that God has overcome death with life. They remember the persistence of God’s promises to love and care for the people no matter what. As midnight approaches, they begin to celebrate. There, in the middle of the night, they rejoice in being the first ones to declare that he is risen.

But even that is jumping ahead a bit. We want to get to the celebration – and who can blame us? – but there’s some waiting before that. And as we wait, we consider how this day would have felt for Jesus’ many followers. All they knew is that their beloved teacher had died. All they felt is the grief of betrayal and loss. All they could hope for is that they would not also be hunted down and killed.

Before you begin your Easter celebrations, I hope you’ll sit with this day. Because even though we don’t typically have a worship service on this day, a lot happens today. And most of it is hard. Give yourself some space to feel the weight of this day and consider what it means for you. May it make the message of Easter Sunday all the more meaningful and life-giving for you.

But not until tomorrow.

Pray.

God, I sit in the shadows today, alongside your Son’s disciples and all those who struggle under the weight of grief and death. Open my heart to compassion for all your believed children who suffer. Let the heaviness of this day move me to greater love for you and my neighbor in your Son’s name. Amen.

Carry On.

What do you need to prepare for Easter Sunday? Not meal planning or Easter baskets, but spiritual preparation. How can you set aside time and space today to reflect on the weight of Holy Saturday so that the joy of Easter Sunday can be complete?