Easter

Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday Reflection
Many of us may have not pondered the significance of Holy Saturday in our spiritual lives. What might Jesus be telling us about our own lives as he lies in the tomb?  Have you ever been entombed?  Have you ever been in a place in your life where the darkness was so great you could not see past it?   It may have been an illness or death of someone you love.  You may have been abused or made to feel unlovable.  The darkness of divorce or the anxiety caused by the pandemic can leave you hopeless. Holy Saturday offers us the comfort that Jesus has experienced the darkness. How blessed we are to have a God who is truly compassionate. He sits with us in the darkness.  Our Lord who is the Resurrection and the Life never abandons us.  No wonder we shout from the mountaintop and the valleys below, “Alleluia” on Sunday morning. Easter is not just a celebration of a past event. We are proclaiming to the entire world that there is no evil, no darkness, that God cannot redeem.  When Christians hear people say these days, “Look for the good,” we hear, “Look for the people who are cooperating with God’s redeeming power!” You are a witness to the resurrection here and now!  Celebrate Easter this year by sharing with others on-line or in notes how you know that Jesus lives!         

Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday Prayer
Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life, we call upon you today to make us one in mind and heart.  As we listen to the pain of the world and we hear about the suffering of those close to us, the darkness seems overwhelming.  Give us the grace to trust in the power of your love.  Help us to never lose hope. Together we affirm our trust that you can bring light in the darkness, life out of death. This is the joy of Easter that we will celebrate as we face the days of uncertainty ahead of us.  We pray in the name of our Savior, Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.