“Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh.”
The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep, asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for lost sheep. He has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. He took Adam by the hand and raised him up, saying: "Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead and Christ will give you light."
I am your God - out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.
For your sake I, your God, took the form of a slave. For your sake I became like a man without help. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed in a garden and I was crucified in a garden.
See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once stretched out your hand to a tree.
I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell.
Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared. the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.
~ Excerpts from the "an ancient homily" Liturgy of the Hours for Holy Saturday
Things to Do:
Enter into union with Mary in her silence, peace, and anticipation of the morrow’s resurrection. Having endured the suffering of Friday, we now turn our hearts in hope of the new life which will spring forth from the grave….
Today is full of preparations for the Easter festivities. Let all your decorating, cooking, cleaning, and lily-arranging be done in a spirit of eager joy. Tomorrow the King will rise again!
Pray the ......Liturgy of the Hours