Devotional 4-7-12

Matthew 27:57-66

“So Joseph (from Arimathea) took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb

I remember several years ago, when I was a local church pastor - the day before Easter Sunday was a busy day of Easter parties and children’s egg hunts. The activity level at the church was hectic with all the preparations for Easter Sunday morning – decorating the sanctuary and the bustle of the children’s party. Our parsonage household was hustling with the last minute cooking and readiness for a traditional Easter dinner. The evening would bring a quiet hush around the church as members would quietly come up the side walk between the church and parsonage entering the church for a night of prayer vigil. Individuals and families would take blocks of time -- keeping vigil through the night awaiting the glorious morning sunrise of Easter.

In the past few years I have grown in a deeper appreciation for this day before Easter – Holy Saturday. Throughout the history of our Christian faith the ancient description of this day has been known as “The Great Silence”. Lost in our busy culture has been the stark reminder of Jesus’ death, his “sleep” in the tomb, a day of quiet and somber stillness.

After I became a Benedictine Oblate of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, my wife and I had the opportunity to spend an Easter weekend at the monastery guesthouse. The usual quiet atmosphere of being at St. Meinrad Archabbey, participating in the prayers with the monks, was enhanced by a powerful personal experience. In the Abbey Church there is a section where the simple oak coffin of a deceased monk is placed between two tall candlesticks. Vigil is kept by the other monks as they sit in prayer with the body of the deceased monk.

I walked into the Abbey Church on that Holy Saturday and there in that same spot was a life sized long painting of the Crucified Christ in the wrapped linen cloth. Two tall candlesticks were placed at the head and feet. The painting, by one of the monks -Fr. Donald Walpole, O.S.B., was painted in 1954 as part of an entire series of paintings of “The Stations of the Cross”. Sketched in calligraphy on the life sized painting are the Latin words, “In pace in idipsum”, which is the reminder of Psalm 4:8 - “I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.” Sitting beside the painting, just like at the death of a monk, was one of the monks of St. Meinrad keeping vigil and saying prayers.

As we observe another Easter, may this day of Great Silence remind us all of the death of our Savior. In the hustle and bustle of living we all experience, may we briefly pause in vigil remembering the stillness of this holy day. We are reminded of our own death that one day leads into life eternal. Before we experience the glory of Resurrection we all will pass through death and silence. As we quietly keep vigil, we remember our sins that were carried to the cross and buried with the Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Dr. William H. Wilson (Bill)