Holy Saturday
Reflection
The followers of Jesus, including his mother, must have been traumatised by such a death.
They allowed one of Jesus’ rich disciples to take charge and look after the burial.
Pilate too, no doubt irritated by the insistence of the High Priest to kill Jesus, allowed his body a decent burial and then insists that the Jewish authorities do the guarding of the tomb.
What would it be like if his death on the cross had been the end of Jesus?
Today’s Prayer
Preparation: Begin by stilling; then dedicating the time of prayer to God and asking God that all you think, feel and imagine are for the glory of God.
Gift: Ask for what you desire. Suggestion: To feel with Mary and the disciples the emptiness of life without Jesus.
Setting: A Scripture reading to imagine you are in the scene.
Scripture
Matthew 27:55-66
Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came. This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.
Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
Conversation: Talk to Jesus in your own words as a friend
Final Prayer: End with a formal prayer such as the Lord’s Prayer/Our Father.
Today’s Music
Stabat Mater: Palestrina sung by the Tallis Scholars