April 11 | Holy Saturday
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Matthew 26:31
Have you ever thought about how the disciples felt on Holy Saturday? While Jesus was in the tomb, after His crucifixion but before His resurrection. They likely would have been in hiding, a hunted people.They were surrounded by the hostility of the Jewish leadership. Anxious and afraid after watching their leader arrested and killed. As Jesus had prophesied, His “sheep” had been scattered.
As we experience Holy Saturday this year, in many ways we are positioned to have a greater understanding of how the disciples felt in this in between period than ever before. We are isolated, separated from one another or you could say, scattered. While we have hope for what comes next there is a lot of fear and anxiety lying in the unknown. The questions we do not have answers to seem to outweigh those with answers. As we look forward on our calendars plans that we once thought we set in stone now have a question mark accompanying them.
We do have many things going for us that the disciples did not. First of all, technology and the ability to connect socially even when physically distancing ourselves. Secondly, we have the Bible. A place where we can look and see what happens next in the disciples’ story, as well as the many times Jesus predicted that they would be in exactly this place. Unfortunately like the disciples we cannot see what is next for us. But looking at their story we can find hope.
They had no way of knowing that in a matter of days everything would change: the woman would find an empty tomb from which Jesus had risen, the Holy Spirit would be poured into them and their feelings of despair would be replaced by triumph.
What we envision in those disciples describes a moment in the lives of all believers. The moment when we recognize how helpless we truly are without Jesus. We remember just how revolutionary the resurrection was and is in our lives. At this moment, which the Church of England appropriately referred to as a “prolonged ‘Holy Saturday’ of emptiness,” many are experiencing a similar recognition of our dependence on Jesus.
So today as we anticipate Easter, and await a return to normalcy, take heart in the knowledge that in His mercy, God sent His Son to experience life on earth in its fullness and took on all of our sins for our redemption. And while this season will last longer than three days, just as it ended for the disciples we will eventually emerge from our homes. Most importantly remember that hope is always present and tomorrow we will celebrate, maybe in a different way than before, the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of thy dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen
1. What do you think the disciples did or experienced in the days between Jesus’ death and resurrection? 2. How has this global pandemic and its impact on your life changed your understanding of your dependence on Jesus? 3. How has the absence of traditional Holy Week and Easter celebrations changed your relationship of death and resurrection of Jesus?
St. Francis Virtual Campus
Looking for more information about our response to COVID-19 or for spiritual resources during this time? Visit our virtual campus, home to our services, daily devotions, youth devotions and more.
VISIT NOW
We Miss You!
During this time of social isolation we're still here for you. We love you, are praying for you, and would love to be there for you. Please reach out if there is anything that we can do for you.
LIBBY RALEIGH