Holy Saturday night of all nights

Gen. 1:1–2:2, Gen. 22:1-18, Ex. 14:15–15:1, Ish 54:5-14, Ish 55:1-11, Bar. 3:9-15.32–4:4, Ezk. 36:16-17.18-28, Epistle: Rom. 6:3-11, Mk 16:1-8. Holy Saturday is a day of nothingness because it is a day between the death of Jesus and His glorious Resurrection. During the day time, liturgically speaking in the mainline Church tradition, nothing happens, for it is a day of sorrow, a day for reflection. However, things changed when the sun sets and, according to Jewish and Christian tradition, Sunday begins. In the darkness which begins Sunday, that is, Saturday night after sunset, Christians assemble to keep a vigil for our Lord Jesus. We reflect on the story of salvation, from the beginning of the world to the third day after the death of Christ. We wait in hopeful anticipation that the Lord Jesus will keep His promise and rise. We look forward to new life, not just for Jesus, but also for all believers, especially those who would be welcomed into the Christian community on this night of all nights.

Just as the Israelites retold, remembered and relived their story each Passover, we tell the history of our salvation in the various readings of today. These readings tell our story, beginning with the creation of the world until the final promise of a saviour. In the epistle, Paul summarises the whole paschal mystery: our dying with the suffering Christ, so that we might share in the life of the Risen Christ. Joyously, the Alleluia is sung for the first time in over forty days, to praise the Lord who is now risen and living among us. The same mode of praise is found in Mary Magdalene and the other women who came to the tomb early in the morning on the third day. As they approached the burial place, they saw that the stone has already been removed. They were told by two men that the Lord whom they seek is not among the dead but that He is alive and seeks to be in further relationship with His followers. The Resurrection does not begin where Good Friday ended; It begins from where Holy Saturday took Him, to show that God’s self-emptying goes far deeper than the Cross and the tomb. This gives us hope as Easter icons of the East show, for Christ is risen to dispel the darkness of the world. In the melting wax of the Paschal candle, we are called into a positive spirituality - the spirituality of light that helps us to overcome evil with good. Such spirituality that challenges us to dedicate ourselves as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Today, we are enjoined to show true love - a mindset that is permeated by the Spirit of God. We are invited to overcome self indulgence: immorality, jealousy, quarrels, malice and drunkenness with the fruits of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness and self control.

May Christ who went down into the world of the dead to free the just, dispel the darkness of the world and bring us new life! Amen!! Good morning and Happy Holy Saturday!!!