Seek refuge in God, your fortress
by Maria Rudolph
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Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me (Psalm 31:3).
Feeling ‘in limbo’ aptly describes this in-between time after Good Friday and before Easter Sunday. It is called Holy Saturday by some. Still reeling from the passion account, the crucifixion is vividly in your mind. You left the church service in a sombre mood. A bare, stripped altar and a black shroud covered the cross. Jesus is dead. Even though you know the end of the story, you live in suspense today. If only we could skip straight to Easter Sunday morning. At least we live in expectation of resurrection life and redemption. After the death of Jesus, his followers didn’t even know the resurrection was about to dawn on them.
It is often Holy Saturday in our lives. How often are we in between things, waiting for a new dawn that will bring good news? Could it be that our whole earthly life is a long, drawn-out Holy Saturday like today while we wait to walk into the loving arms of God into eternity?
And yet, the Saturday in between already passed over 2000 years ago. The first Easter Sunday has already dawned on us. Now we live freely, redeemed by Christ, adopted and forgiven by God. Eternity with God has already begun for us as we joined with Christ in our baptism.
God has created us for this earthly life with a purpose and with himself as a constant guide and defender. He has become our refuge, our rock, our solid foundation. Christ, the wounded healer, through allowing himself to be broken and by giving up his spirit and dying, brings an end to Holy Saturdays. We do not have to remain there any longer. You are saved because of God’s unfailing love; you can build on this solid foundation forever. In the darkest depths of a Holy Saturday that never seems to end, God is your hope and strength.
How do you experience this Holy Saturday?
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace. You are our rock and refuge, our fortress, and in you, we trust. Amen.
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