EXPLORING HOLY SATURDAY

Where is God when heaven is silent?

On Holy Saturday, it is not Jesus but we who must ask the “Where?” question:

“Where on earth are You, God, when Your Son lies dead in the grave?”

On Holy Saturday, the hopes and prayers of every disciple lay dashed and broken in the grave. But God did nothing. Said nothing. No sound but the buzzing of flies around the corpse of the Son.

Day 32: God’s Presence in God’s People

Pause

“Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” - Psalm 80:3

Reflect

  • Bible: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

  • Book: “The University of Wisconsin's Center for the Study of Pain conducted an experiment in which researchers timed how long volunteers could keep their feet in buckets of freezing water. They discovered something very remarkable: whenever a companion was allowed in the room with a person whose feet were being frozen, he or she could endure the cold for twice as long as those who suffered alone. ‘The presence of another caring person doubles the amount of pain a person can endure,’ the researcher said. The same is undoubtedly true of emotional pain, and here again, we see that "human beings are the language of God." - (p. 188)

Ask

  • What affliction have you recently experienced?

  • Who consoles you in your affliction?

  • What steps would you take to console someone in pain?

  • Do you feel that having a companion positively affects how long  and how well we respond to pain? Why or why not?

  • In what way can it be argued that “human beings are the language of God?”

  • Can you feel the loving presence of God in your life? Explain

  • When did you last express your appreciation for the companion(s) that you have in your life?

  • What comfort have you received from God that you have shared with those around you?

  • Take a moment and ask the Lord to show you someone who needs to be comforted.

Yield

A prayer attributed to Francis of Assisi:

“O Master, let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.” Amen.




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