Saturday

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Someone once told me that Saturday of Holy week was his favorite day of the church year because it parallels our life. Our life is spent in that in between space, waiting for the new life of the resurrection to bloom into the complete redemption of all creation. For the disciples it must have been a hard day. The raw pain and frantic pace of the day before had probably felt surreal. The Sabbath left them "resting according to the commandment," to dwell on their grief and their thoughts.

Today's reading completes the story of the passion begun yesterday and takes us into Saturday. Jesus commends his spirit to God and dies on the cross. He's buried by a secret disciple and mourned by the women who see where his tomb is. Then creation takes a breath and waits.
May waiting deepen our spiritual lives.
Blessings,
Sam

Luke 23:44-56

44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

50Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.