Now He is Resting in the Tomb

(Great and Holy Saturday) (Matthew 28:1-10)

The Author of all Creation is now held within His creation. The Giver of Life has now given His life in behalf of us all. He Who made the heavens and the earth in six days and then rested on the seventh day now rests in the tomb.

Usually, when a battle is fought, the winner is still alive; it is the one who is defeated who has lost his life. But this is not an ordinary battle; this is no ordinary victory. The One the world thinks it has destroyed by death is destroying Death itself by His death. The Creator Who is resting in the tomb is accomplishing for us a new Creation. The Giver of Life Who is resting in the tomb is giving life to those held captive by Death, and will lead them up on high with Himself. Death has been conquered; Hell is ravaged, and all those who had suffered in a place of darkness behold the uncreated light of the glory of God in our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has entered in their midst to set them free and lead them out of captivity into the glorious freedom of His kingdom.

So it is that St. Paul writes, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore, let us keep the feast.” As Israel of old was led out of captivity by the power of God, so too are we, the new Israel, the people of God, led out of captivity to death, and to sin, by our Lord Jesus Christ. We who are baptized into His death are also partakers of His life; by the waters of baptism, we have “passed over” from death to life.

The people of Israel, having beheld the power of God at the time they crossed the Red Sea, which God had parted for them to cross as on dry land, quickly forgot the mercy of God, and longed to return to the fleshpots of Egypt. It took a sojourn of forty years in the desert before they were permitted by God to enter the land He had promised to Abraham; the land of which they were the heirs.

We who have journeyed through the Fast of forty days in Great Lent also stand at the threshold of the promised land. Yet every time we return to the ways of sin, we repeat this failing of the people of Israel, who, for the sake of tasty food (in place of the manna, the bread of heaven, provided by God), were willing to become slaves in Egypt once more. Do we love the “taste” of our own sins so much that we will continue to turn our backs to Him Who has died to set us free?

The women come bearing myrrh to anoint His body. It is an act of love and devotion for Him Who had taught them so much, had shown them a glimpse of the heavenly realm, Who had inspired love in them with His love for them, and for all mankind. There were many obstacles in the way of their act of devotion; the possibility of being arrested themselves, of dealing with the soldiers guarding the tomb – and who would roll away the stone for them? But they were not deterred; instead, they set forth to perform this act of love – and found instead an empty tomb.

Now He is resting in the tomb. Are we preparing the myrrh, the sweet fragrance of a life and love devoted to God? Are we making ready the spices of a life dedicated to the ways of God, and not of the world? Will we also resolve to brave the obstacles that would keep us from fulfilling our duty to God? Will we, for this brief time, lay aside all earthly cares, all thoughts of the belly, all the worries of Martha, preparing for the feast, and watch and wait and mourn His death; so that we, too, may be filled with wonder and joy when we behold His empty tomb?