Luke 23:50-56

⁵⁰ Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹ had 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. ⁵² This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then 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. ⁵⁴ It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.^{[o] 55} The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶ Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Thought for Holy Saturday

Jesus was buried. It is mentioned in Scripture almost as a footnote. This is because we have for the most part learnt to do without Holy Saturday; it is almost as if we move from the final breath to the first gasp of Easter air without a pause. Pause today and take stock; for somehow in the darkness, light has escaped: it has redefined the darkness and there is now no reason to be afraid. Only in the stillness and the waiting will we be able to see this and begin to remember that darkness and light are both the same to the one who made us. That is God’s story, and with grace it might become ours.

Holy Saturday

Prayer

God of hope and stillness

God of grace and glory

Darkness and Light are both the same to you; help us to appreciate that

In the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.