| Holy Saturday, April 16 |
Revelation 21:4 |
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
DEATH SHALL BE NO MORE
That promise is made because, as we read in verses just prior, "the home of God is among mortals" (among us!). God dwells with us. We are God’s people. God’s very essence is with us. That means God is close enough to us to wipe away the tears from our eyes, and there have certainly been plenty of tears these days. We are beginning the third year of a worldwide pandemic that has not only upended every aspect of our lives, but literally killed millions. Death is certainly a present reality, not just because of the pandemic but because we are indeed mortal. There has been plenty of mourning and bemoaning the state of our country, our communities, even our churches. It has been hard not to be discouraged at times when we experience the deep divisions among us, the lack of respect and care for others, the anger and even violence. All of this has brought pain in so many ways to so many people. So where is God in the midst of it all and how can we possibly be renewed and reconnect to what is life-giving?
On this Holy Saturday, God is in the tomb, actually experiencing death through Jesus. God is weeping with those who thought that Jesus was the answer to the violence of the Roman oppression, mourning the lost hopes and dreams of a better world, experiencing the pain and grief of loss. And because God dwells even there, in our death and pain, our tears and grief, those realities do not have the last word. Those realities do not win. God’s presence, God’s love, God’s word bring something new. That is what Easter is all about. Not the resuscitation of a dead person but the resurrection of new life, new life that comes not by avoiding the cross, death and pain, but by going through it. We do not go through it alone, and that makes all the difference. That is what enables us to be renewed even as we still cry. That is what enables us to reconnect even as there are still divisions. God dwells with us, touching us with such gentle, loving hands that we cannot help but know, deep in our hearts, there is hope. There is life. There is joy. For there is always love that is stronger than anything else we experience.
O God, you are the creator of the world, the liberator of your people and the wisdom of the earth, and you have chosen to make your home with us. Out of your great love, you not only wipe away our tears, but restore us in your image so that we might be renewed and reconnect with your own creation, carrying the light of your presence in all we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Bishop Susan Candea
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