the day before...

Holy Saturday - a day of remembrance. Of the descent into hell and opening the gates of heaven for all mankind. We would not be able to enter through those golden gates if there was never a Holy Saturday. We would not have the heavenly army fighting for us or walking alongside us if it were not for Holy Saturday. We would not know the mercy of God if it was not for Holy Saturday. We would not know a deep anticipation. A hunger. A thirst. A longing. A desire for everlasting joy. We would not know what awaits us without Holy Saturday. A day of waiting. Of somber hope. Of loneliness. Of anticipation for the great triumphant.

They say on Good Friday, darkness won but Easter is coming, but what about Holy Saturday? What about that day when the tomb was shut -- the burial was over. His Mama Mary, Mary Magdalene, the beloved disciple and so forth went home to live their lives. But they left in brokenness, with tears in their eyes. They left in loneliness and abandonment. Left in grief. Their Son, brother, teacher - had gone. I cannot pretend to know their pain, but I know that leaving the burial of a family member or loved one is one of the hardest things. A part of you died with them and was buried with them never to be returned. It is unexplainable the grief experienced after the burial. The reality hits when suddenly, they are not going home with you ever again. Those moments are gone forever. They are gone forever.

So, when Mary, John, Mary Magdalene, and his disciples left the tomb, they left a part of themselves with it. They left in grief and sorrow. And they waited. They waited for time to heal. The Man in the grave was dead, but He was to rise and live. Sunday morning would bring tidings of new life, of complete joy, of salvation. But for now, we wait. We journey through life, to one day experience an Easter like no other. To [hopefully] walk through those pearly gates of gold and see the Man who died on Good Friday; to open the gates of salvation on Holy Saturday. To bring us our Easter morning. And, oh what a joyful day it will be! A day of eternal singing. Of ever praising. Of ever worship. How blessed, yet unworthy are we to commemorate this most sacred time every year. The story of the world's salvation. The story of our salvation.

I cannot help but be filled with a sense of overwhelming joy when I think of the Resurrection. Of Jesus conquering death. My brother, who died thirteen years ago today - he isn't dead because he lives in Jesus. On this earth, Christ lived in him from the moment of his baptism until He brought him back home - his forever home - once his journey was over. Once his waiting - his Holy Saturday - had set and he was invited to share in that Easter. That joy. That forever life. Each year I miss him more, but I would not think of having him anywhere else - than in the eternal celebration of Easter morning.

So, pray for me and all of us that we too may one day be at your side, celebrating Christ triumphant. Worshipping and giving praise to the Man who died so that we may live. I love you, Theodore.

St. Theodore the day he joined Christ's Church