Holy Saturday

By Alzira Lampropoulos

Reading: Matthew 27:57-66

“….. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.

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When a dear one dies, we honor their life by meeting together for a Memorial Service/ Funeral/Celebration of Life. Together, we share our grief; we are strengthened by each other.  In today’s Bible passage, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were together, and I know they comforted and strengthened each other, during that long vigil from Friday into the Sabbath.

My experience with the deaths of my immediate family is complicated. I was unable to travel to Rio de Janeiro for the burials of my mother, my sister, my brother.  I shared grief and received strength via the WhatsApp link with my remaining relatives.   A complicated situation happened with the death of my Aunt Eunice, who died in New York City, during the second month of COVID-sheltering.  We were not allowed to travel to her Nursing Home, but again, a nurse initiated a Facetime session with my Aunt and I said my last words to her.  But! No funeral for my Aunt, who was cremated during that very trying time of the pandemic!  In fact, it was not until two years later that my sons, my husband and I were able to travel to Manhattan to retrieved my Aunt’s ashes, when we had a small memorial service at the church where her ashes had been watched over (kept) by the minister.  Now, with the urn of my Aunt’s ashes, I had to decide how to honor her life.  So, before I tell you my decision, allow me to remind you that during this year’s Ash Wednesday service, Pastor Shawn poured a jar of very fine ash from a tall jar into an aquarium-like container.  As he was pouring, I was immediately transported to our trip to Manhattan when we retrieved my Aunt’s ashes.  She loved Manhattan, it was her home for 65 years.  We fulfilled my decision to scatter her ashes in three different parks in her beloved city. The Minister had watched over her ashes; we lovingly scattered them in meaningful places. Our long vigil was over for my Aunt. 

How about the vigil held by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary?  I want to believe that they hoped in the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that He promised to rise from death on the third day (Matthew 20:19b)