A liminal space

Every year, Holy Week replays the story of betrayal, abandonment, humiliation, violence, injustice and ultimately death. On Good Friday, we focus on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and Easter Sunday on his glorious resurrection. But what about the Saturday in-between?

For most, while sombre church services for Good Friday are a given, Saturday is spent in getting ready for Easter celebrations; cleaning, cooking, last-minute shopping, preparing for time with family and friends. The often-bypassed Holy Saturday, before Easter, is a time of no-longer, not yet. A threshold place, a liminal space, a very difficult place to be. Yet, it is in this strange space of uncertainty, of hope entwined with doubt, where, if we can be still, silent, open, true learning can happen.

However, for Jesus' followers, who did not know for sure, it was a day of extreme sadness, pain and bewilderment. The one they had loved and had given up everything for, around whom they had shaped their lives, had been put to death, cruelly.

Some had hoped Jesus would have used his 'powers' to escape dramatically, some were still dazed and unbelieving that it had all ended this way. Now, they were coping with a churning of uncomfortable emotions of puzzlement, sadness, anger, doubt, guilt.

Holy Saturday speaks most directly to the daily reality of our lives, evoking much about the human condition.