Holy Saturday

It is the day after the crucifixion and I wonder what the disciples were up to. There is a good chance that they would be keeping low, in their own type of self isolation so to speak. I wonder what they would have been feeling, I wonder what they would have said to each other. Perhaps they would be asking, what if we had done something different?  What if we had acted sooner? Why is all this happening? There might have been a mixture of feelings including fear and guilt and even anger.

As the situation over coronavirus seems to be getting worse there is temptation to ask similar types of questions. If they are asked simply to seek to blame someone I am not sure that they are very helpful. Perhaps what is more important is to ask what are we doing now and what will we do tomorrow.
As Jesus lay in the tomb this was a question some of his disciples seem to have asked. The women were getting ready to go to the tomb, they were planning what to do next.

Perhaps this is something we can all do in this difficult times. Just plan for today and for tomorrow. that plan might be to stay at home. I don't know about you but during this time at home I have been looking out of the window more into the garden to watch the birds. The blue tits have come back to the nesting box, dunnocks and sparrows hop around the patio;  in the ivy blackbirds are nesting. We also have some robins visiting on a regular basis. Legend says that the robin's breast is red because of his association with Christ's death and crucifixion. When Jesus was on the road to Calvary it is said that a robin plucked a thorn from Christ's temple and a drop of Jesus' blood fell on the robin's chest, turning it red.

We often associate robins with Christmas, the birth of Christ, but they can also remind us at this time of year of the sacrifice of Christ for us all and so give hope for the future.

Dear God

On this day between crucifixion

and resurrection

help us to pause and remember

the sacrifice Christ made for us all

and be thankful.

Then help us to look towards

tomorrow knowing the hope that

the resurrection brings.

We pray for all those in need today; 

and all those who care for them.

We pray for those in positions of

responsibility, that your wisdom

may guide them.

We pray for those parts of the world 

where poverty, war and injustice 

bring darkness, may your light shine

through people of goodwill.

Hear our prayers in the name of Christ

Amen