And so we wait . . .

Cookies are part of every holiday preparation

The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday often gets lost in the shuffle. There is only a short (maybe 10 minute) prayer service, which is on pg. 283 in The Book of Common Prayer. I have been to many of these services. Some take place in the columbarium of the church, some in the choir and some simply just outside the doors of the church. It is usually a small group that prays together and then enters the church to prepare for the Easter Vigil and all the festivities of Easter morning.

Eggs Dying a Few Years Ago
Scripture tells us that the day following the crucifixion was the day of preparation so preparations were made for the feast and then the women waited. They sat near the tomb and they waited until they could care for the body of Jesus.

We do the same in most homes and churches. We clean our homes for company and begin to prepare Easter dinner. Churches are scrubbed and decorated with flowers. Vestments are washed, ironed and hung up. The silver is polished in the church and in homes. Like the women in Jesus’ time would have prepared for the Passover seder, we prepare to celebrate too.

Preparing for Christ's light in the World

In the Lukanich home today, we will prepare and then we will rest. After reading today’s scripture, each of us prepares a room of our house for Easter. The kids will clean their room then we will dye eggs, of course, bake cookies and do the necessary prep for our Easter dinner.

This year we have a different project. In preparation of The Easter Vigil, the boys are decorating their own Pascal candles. I have candles in a jar, construction paper, tissue paper and glue. They are going to create masterpieces that will remind us of the light of Christ through out the year.

And then we wait.

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66

57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and 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 and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 62The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
Family Traditions are a huge part
of our preparation.

O God, Creator of heaven and earth:  Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Conversation Starter:
  • Describe what waiting looks like for you.
  • What are the things for which you are willing to wait?
  • Why do you believe being able to wait is important?
  • How do you believe we can prepare for the coming of Christ?
  • How should we mark Holy Saturday as a family?




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