Holy Week 2012 – Saturday: Silent as the Grave

Greetings Dear Reader,

Silence is one of those things that I have trouble with.  Too much time alone when I was at an age where I should not be alone bread in me a difficulty with silence.  I have learned to tolerate the silence over the years and come to realize that sometimes it is just what I need.

This silence; the silence of the grave is different.  In the times that death has visited me the silence is howling, painful, and turbulent.  I have tried often but cannot imagine what his friends and family are going through on this day so many centuries ago.  They are in hiding and in fear.  They are in pain because their faith has failed.  The one who spoke courage and comfort to them lies silent in the grave.

I can imagine what the priests who did not believe are feeling.  They are not silent.  They comfort themselves with having killed an upstart carpenter.  They convince themselves that they have served God and their faith.  They have killed a man and freed a murderer.  They have bribed a man and then refused to let him seek atonement.  They have coerced a Roman governor into killing Jesus.  They are also just worried enough to post a guard outside the tomb that is sealed, silent, and full.

At the moment the sting of death is in full venom.  The grave seems victorious.  The tomb holds the Son of God in its cold unyielding womb.  Gestating in that soundless womb is the only hope of salvation for all men everywhere forever.  That mute womb is not voiceless.  It speaks to hopes and fears equally dependent upon the quality of faith in the listener. 

The sun will set and the stony womb will grow colder.  The dankness will descend and either faith or despair will rise.  The night will feel long and oppressive either way.  Outside the silent womb will be the noise of soldiers complaining about the cold dark duty they have drawn.  Their forced vigil is ironically the only one held outside this place of hope and waiting.  Should not there have been thousands of Christ followers gathered waiting for the first light of dawn and the birth of new life?    

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Holy Week 2012 – Sunday:  Resurrection and Life