With the death of Jesus, everything seems to come to an end! Silence like a heavy cloak envelops the city and weighs heavily on the hearts of all those who had followed Jesus until his last breath, including Mary, his mother.
The turmoil of emotions experienced during the events of the previous days gives way to a space of silence. We must take the time to savour this silence that is offered to us on Holy Saturday… It is the silence of God. It can confuse us, just as it confused his disciples, who left, disappointed, and locked themselves away for fear of reprisals.
The silence of the Absent One gives us the time we need to deepen our faith and discover a new form of presence. God may seem absent to us, but our faith needs this time of darkness so that the eyes of our hearts may be prepared to welcome the dazzling light of the Risen One. Like the disciples, let us also set out on the path to discover the Risen Lord in our lives in a new way.
Virgin Mary, teach us to live this silence of absence in hope. Teach us to trust that this silence will be broken forever by the cry of Life that bursts forth on Easter morning. The cry of New Birth for all Creation and Humanity in Jesus, the Risen Christ!
Sr. Louise Madore, DW
Canada
