We come to Holy Saturday, and it is a grand day for the new recruits joining our Church, and we need more and more of them. Also, we know that it is one of the longest Masses of the year, and a lot of ground gets covered. Perhaps too much ground to cover for me!
Friday Night
For today’s reflection, I want to ponder the life among Jesus’ followers and relatives just after Good Friday. We modern people have 2000 years of history, the Bible, and lots of smart people helping us understand the Faith, and Easter. We believers know what comes on Sunday. Right after Jesus died, and he was put in the tomb on Good Friday night, what happens with his followers? We know they had not put all the pieces together yet.
After an exhausting day of abuse of their friend, and probably at least 36 hours without much sleep, Jesus is dead. Judas disappeared. Just last Sunday, they were welcomed as heroes on Palm Sunday. They had a great Passover meal with the group, but things started to go sideways in the garden after the Passover meal, culminating with Jesus’ 3pm death on Friday.
The disciples and friends probably regrouped at the Passover dinner room, to hide from the angry Jews. The female followers probably gathered their strength with Mary, and perhaps went to John’s lodgings, or that neighborhood. The crowds dispersed back to their homes and wondered about what “could have been” with this Jesus character. Simon the Cyrene probably arrived at his final destination, but much later than expected, and much dirtier and much more tired than expected.
The Sabbath has started, so these people were with each other, trying to figure out what the heck just happened. Did they discuss the 3 hour solar eclipse, the earth quake, bodies walking out of tombs, and the holy temple getting majorly damaged? Did they hear that Judas killed himself?
Jesus’ Time Away
I also wonder about Jesus’ activities. I’m not a theologian, so these are just my opinions. I think he went to Hell to give people a chance to repent as we say in prayers, and I think he probably visited Purgatory, as well. Joseph had died years before, and certainly would not be in Hell, so I like to think that he had a great reunion with his earthly Dad, with a trip to Heaven scheduled for Sunday morning at Sunrise. The “good thief” was there waiting, as well. The deceased prophets, including John the Baptist, were also updated with the Good News. I envision some sort of shooting star event, where millions of newly released souls soar to Heaven on Easter morning. And I also see a giant gate closing, like a bank vault, with the poor souls in Hell locked in place…forever.
Have a blessed Easter. I pray that your self-improvement projects of the last 40 days were helpful and fruitful.
Remain blessed!
