“Remember what he said to you…”
It is in the gospel of Luke alone that we hear the word, “remember.”
“Remember what he said to you while he was till in Galilee,
that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners
and be crucified,
and rise on the third day.”
We might call this day, Holy Saturday, ‘reflection day.’ Luke is inviting us to remember, as in not-to-forget. Luke is inviting us to re-member as in to reconstruct, to make whole, to hold together.
Today is a day of mourning, of grieving, of celebrating, of commemorating, of being with throughout the dark night until the light of resurrection. We are invited to enter into the emptiness of the tomb, the silence of the darkness, the solitude of aloneness.
Today’s readings taken from Hebrew Scripture invite us to remember, reflect on, and be with, and hold significant events and faith stories upon which our faith is built: creation of universal harmony out of rampant chaos, the salvation of one family on behalf of all women and men and children, the parting of the Red Sea delivering the Israelites from death to freedom.
Today’s readings taken from the New Testament invite us to remember, reflect on, and be with Jesus as he lives out of a strong Hebrew tradition into a new way of being. Remember Jesus who lived and walked among us. Remember the generous Jesus who fed the hungry, the compassionate Jesus who clothed the naked, the comforting Jesus who healed the sick. Remember…Remember…Remember…
Remember the innocent Jesus who was crucified and died. Hold the mutilated body of the tortured Jesus. Comfort the sorrowing Mother Mary.
This is the day of quiet, emptiness, silence and solitude. “Remember,( he will) rise on the third day.”
Joan Blandin Howard
After working and teaching at Creighton for many years, I am officially retired, but hardly so. Having 5 adult children, in-laws, and 11 grandchildren I keep pretty busy! My husband and I spend hours in our garden planting, pruning, dead-heading and of course weeding and mowing! We spend even more time sitting in our garden, delighting in its beauty. The beauty overwhelms me and invities me into a space of en-Joy-ment and gratitude to the Creator and Artist of all. I have much for which to be grateful. I also like to travel, read, write and make art. My ministry of spiritual direction and silent retreats continues.
I count my blessings. You among them.
Initially I thought I was writing for myself. I use the readings as a source of personal prayer. I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend in prayer, study and preparation. The writing seems to be a natural end product. The wonderful e-mails I receive tell me that I am not writing just for me and they reconfirm my faith in the presence of the Lord, who speaks all languages, permeates untold experiences, and surfaces in the most ordinary of daily delights and disturbing distractions. That the Lord would speak through me is a gift I had not anticipated.
I thank you, the reader and fellow pilgrim, for joining us on our journey. God bless us.
