Reflection
Today, Holy Saturday, the Church abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare. Rather, the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death into Hell and awaiting his Resurrection.
Because there is no Mass, there are no Mass Readings. From the Divine Office, the Church gives us Morning Prayer and the Office of the Readings. The second reading from the Office of the Readings is taken from an unattributed ancient homily for Holy Saturday.
“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 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 a lost sheep… Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, … saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
… 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. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, 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.”