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A Prayer for Quiet Contemplation This Holy Saturday
By Kyle Norman
“The ladies who had include Jesus from Galilee adopted Joseph and noticed the tomb and the way his physique was laid in it. Then they went residence and ready spices and perfumes. However they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” – Luke 23:55-56
One of many church buildings the place I served had an everlasting flame suspended earlier than the altar. An everlasting flame is a waxen candle that symbolizes the ever presence of God. Because the candle burns down, the flame is “handed” to the subsequent candle. It’s a visible illustration of the sunshine of Jesus that endlessly shines upon us. The flame by no means goes out.
At this church, at any time when it celebrated the yearly remembrance of Christ’s dying, the everlasting candle can be marched out of the sanctuary. What I discovered fascinating was that the flame gave the impression to be gone. The church lay in darkness. However, off within the different room, amongst all of the robes and books, the candle nonetheless flickered. Though we couldn’t see the flame, it nonetheless burned. Christ was nonetheless current.
There’s something profound in regards to the stillness of Holy Saturday. Historically, Holy Saturday is the day when the church affirms that Jesus “descended to the lifeless.” Jesus entered the place of the lifeless, releasing the captives from jail and disarming the devilish powers. And but, as a lot as we’d acknowledge this present day of victory, Holy Saturday can also be a day of stillness. Jesus lay immobile within the grave. The stillness of Holy Saturday is a deep expression of the Sabbath. Simply as God rested from the exercise of creation on the seventh day, so then Jesus rested from the exercise of re-creation on this seventh day.
Holy Saturday binds Good Friday and Easter Sunday collectively. It’s a time after we maintain two realities earlier than us. We ponder Christ’s dying for our sin, a dying that was rightfully ours. However we additionally look to the resurrection, and in that mild, we acknowledge that we will cease all our religious strivings. The Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday calls us to relaxation in Christ’s presence. The work of sacrifice and providing is full, and the glory of the resurrection is about to daybreak. So on this Holy Saturday, we breathe in all that God has wrought for us. Resting with Jesus on Holy Saturday recalibrates our religious lives.
And let’s be sincere, all of us want this recalibration occasionally. Scripture typically talks about how we’re referred to as to attend upon the Lord, to be nonetheless within the presence of God. Scripture by no means says, “Hurry up and know that I’m God.” The Bible doesn’t say, “Those that are busy for the Lord will renew their energy.” And but, on this fast-paced world of ours, it may be simple to fall into this entice, to consider that Jesus responds to the plethora of our actions and the manyness of our phrases. And, so, Holy Saturday calls us to cease. To appreciate the work has been accomplished. Sin has been atoned for. We’re free, and so we relaxation.
This place of quiet reflection and contemplation calls us to acknowledge that our redemption isn’t discovered within the satisfaction of needs and desires or within the mastery of our time-bound selves. It’s present in resting in Christ’s work. We attain out for Jesus’ presence earlier than we attain out for a specific reply or motion. We dare to consider that Christ’s stillness doesn’t imply his absence. As we relaxation, we look ahead to the approaching resurrection, assured in its arrival.
Let’s pray:
Treasured Jesus, I place myself earlier than you in quietness and peace on this Holy Saturday.
As I mirror upon your dying on the cross, I thanks for saving work. I thanks that you just had me in thoughts because the nails struck your palms and toes and the spear pierced your aspect. I thanks on your saving exercise on that cross and for setting me free from all of the sin that threatens my life with you. Lord, as you rested out of your work on that holy day, I pray that you just lead me right into a time of relaxation and peace. Assist me to nonetheless the decision of exercise in my soul, the frenetic busyness that may simply take over my life. Assist me, gracious Lord, to acknowledge the stillness of your presence, a stillness that beckons me to comply with you to a quiet locations for my very own relaxation and refreshment. Within the quiet locations of my day, could you draw my consideration to your presence. Push in opposition to all that distracts me and overwhelms me. And as my physique breathes deeply the air round me, could my soul breathe deeply your spirit of life and peace. Jesus, as you rested that Holy Saturday, awaiting your triumphant resurrection, assist me to anticipate the approaching of the third day, the place you name me to new life. Give me eyes to see the place you name me ahead in religion, and put together me, O Lord, to obtain your victory anew and to welcome your resurrection in celebration and surprise.
All of this I pray within the title of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Picture Credit score: ©iStock/Getty Photographs Plus/RomoloTavani
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