Saturday of Holy Week

Jesus took the wine and said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Jesus was killed. He did as much as he could to bring a revolution of compassion, inclusion, and justice, to religion and to the world. Then he died. Much too soon. “It is finished,” he said.

Holy Saturday commemorates a day of darkness, grief, and great loss. Not just loss of an incredible person, but loss of hope and dreams. Holy Saturday is the day the world stops for a moment and remembers what that must have been like. It’s not too hard to imagine, because we’ve all had our own “Holy Saturdays,” days when we’ve been so crushed by grief that surely the world must stop and at least wait for us to get our breath back.

This sounds somewhat warped, but I like this day. Or at least I appreciate it. I’m grateful for the moment to stop and remember Jesus, and so many others, who have lost their lives trying to make this world a better place for everyone. Without stopping to reflect on the cost, Easter doesn’t have anywhere close to the same meaning. Without allowing ourselves to feel the sadness, the loneliness, the fear, and the love, Easter’s joy doesn’t quite meet the same high.

I invite each of us to stop today. Let yourself sink into what it must have felt like to have lost your friend, teacher, inspiration and hope for the future. With all that is going on today, we also feel the collective grief arising around the world, as so many are dying from COVID-19, and we allow ourselves to feel and honor that sadness.

Shalom,

Kaye