Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:2-5)

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Holy Saturday

It is not by some accident of history that it was on Saturday, the Sabbath, that Christ laid in the tomb. 

You may have noticed that today there is no reading from the Gospel.  Today is unique in the lectionary for that reason.  Today, the Gospel is silent, Christ is silent.  Likewise, it is forbidden to celebrate the Eucharist on this day.  On this day, Our Lord keeps Sabbath to its fullness.  On this day, in our Lord's mighty rest, the Sabbath is fulfilled.

But the Sabbath ends at sun down, Our Lord's rest will soon be at an end. 

Then light will shine out of the darkness.  The new fire will be lit and darkness will be put to flight.

Tonight is the night, when God brought our Fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea on dry land.

Tonight is the night , when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life.

Tonight is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.

How blessed is this night, when earth and heaven are joined and man is reconciled to God!
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