We’re almost at Easter! The end of a difficult week is in sight for countless people around the world who are observing Holy Week. But, we’re not at Easter yet … we’re not at the end of Holy Week.

This day, known as Holy Saturday, is one last nudge – one final reminder – of the fragility of the human being.
And this night, Holy Saturday, in the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, hope and possibility are ignited.

Holy Saturday might be likened to a “Morning-After” situation.
The “Morning-After” when the worst thing that could possibly have happened, happened – such as …
~ when you received the devastating medical diagnosis
~ when you were fired
~ when you realized that a brutal war was happening
– when you discovered yourself on a ‘deportation list’
~ when your spouse confessed to cheating
~ when you were at a great party, woke up with a doozy of a headache learned that you had driven your car the previous night, and had injured or killed someone
~ when your beloved spouse, child, parent, friend, pet died and you realize it actually happened and was not just a bad dream
~ when you discovered fire, a tornado, hurricane, or war had ravaged your home and there was nothing left – no photo, no computer, no important documents, no clothes, no furniture, nothing
~ when you discovered your dreams about a special job or school or retirement were shattered.

We likely all have a story we can relate to when we were ‘beyond-beyond’ comprehension. And if we can’t think of anything, the threat of chemical/nuclear, cyber war, the everpresent threat of climate change is our ‘Morning-After,’ and it’s difficult to see very far into the future. Our Holy Saturday morning experience could be described as being similar to that of the disciples when they couldn’t see beyond the tomb of Jesus … when they couldn’t see beyond the reality of His crucifixion and death.

The Holy Saturday of long ago, the Holy Saturday of today, have similarities – between tonight’s Holy Saturday sunset and tomorrow’s Easter Sunday sunrise, we wait. We keep vigil. We observe the Liturgy of the Great Vigil of Easter which begins in darkness, then a fire is lit and is symbolically brought into the sanctuary/home by a candle. 

As the service of prayerful watching continues, Scripture is read, prayers are offered, the Exsultet is sung, holy Baptism or the Renewal of Baptismal vows happens, and the first celebration of Holy Communion begins the glorious Season of Easter … with light throughout the room/sanctuary along with joyful music, colourful flowers, great smiles and the exuberant shouting of “Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!” by all who are present.  A sense of unbridled joy fills hearts as the wilderness of Lent, the Cross, the empty tomb move us from death to life.

But in these days, when images of death fill the airwaves and people are still deeply concerned about a future without democracy, a future of unknown consequences – or our reality is a present when we can’t be with others to share the good news that “Christ is risen,” what then?

We could do what we did at 7:00 pm each night at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. We could sing out loud in our homes, our streets. We could bang our pots and pans. We could joyfully proclaim that the Great Vigil of Easter is over!  

We are not alone. 
Hope is alive.
Easter is here!
“Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!“

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© June Maffin
www.medium.com/@junemaffin
https:www.soulistry.com/blog
https:www.facebook.com/groups/soulistry
@soulistryjune.bsky.social
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