Silent Saturday

Silent Saturday

April 3, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 19:38-42
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

My Dad, a disabled vet, suffered a massive heart attack and was eventually rushed to the cardiac care unit at the Veterans Administration for care. One week later, I walked into his room and found him sitting on the side of the bed looking healthier than I had seen him in years. Having worked at a hospital as a social worker, I have seen and read lots of machines surrounding patient’s beds. That morning when I looked at his cardiac read-outs, I saw something I had never seen before. His heart readings looked like a picture a toddler might scribble on a plain piece of paper. I stepped out of the room to the nursing station and asked about what I had seen. I was assured that that happened at times, not to worry about it. When I walked back into the room, my Dad looked at me and said very calmly, “Marilynn, it is worse than they think.” He died about two hours later. He was preparing me for his death. I think of that experience each Holy Week as I read about Jesus’ preparing his followers for what he knew was coming.

Joseph of Arimathea, who previously had served Jesus secretly for fear of the Jews, now has the motivation to claim his body for burial. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, obviously interested in what Jesus said and did. Nicodemus also did not want to be too public about it. He joined Joseph in burying Jesus. What does it take for us to commit ourselves entirely to serving as God calls us to help to risk our reputation while stepping outside the world’s definition of justice and righteousness?

While healing and saving people, Jesus taught prevention. The Sermon on the Mount cautions us to prevent the things that lead up to murder. We are to be a light to the world so people can not stumble into trouble. Feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, and welcoming the stranger opens the door for all of God’s children to thrive and be the people God created them to be.

The day after a death is often a day of reflection. Some call the day after Jesus’ death Silent Saturday. His disciples then and we disciples now can use this day to consider our service to God as we work to do justice in the same kind of world that crucified a man for teaching and modeling justice through love.

Prayer: Lord, help me gauge my actions by your purposes. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.