A Reflection for Silent Saturday

Today, the day before Easter Sunday, is often called Silent Saturday.

The Gospel writers don’t share a lot about this day because, well…it was silent.

Jesus had died on the cross on Good Friday and was buried before sundown and the start of the Sabbath. As His body was laid in that garden tomb, it appeared that all hope had been lost.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

Why has this happened?

Where can we look for help now?

No doubt the disciples and Jesus’ other followers were struck with grief, sorrow and a deep sense of loss.

The One that John described as the Word of God (John 1:1), now lays lifeless and silent. The One who is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15) is dead and has no words to be heard.

On this Silent Saturday, there is an opportunity for us to reflect and ask ourselves an important question:

What do we do with “in the middle moments”?

As modern readers, most of us know how the story turns out. Because of this, we often want to fast forward to the joy and celebration of Easter Sunday, the morning that Jesus defeated death and rose again to life.

But sometimes it is good to slow down and consider the silence of Saturday.

How should we respond when it feels like God is silent?

How do we hang on to hope, when hope feels lost?

We need to remember that at this moment — on Saturday— it looks like death has won.

Are the hopes of the disciples and the followers of Jesus now gone?

The things they had anticipated for the past three years of hearing Jesus Word’s and seeing the miracles…is it all lost?

Was it all for nothing?

The disciples felt this.

You might be feeling this.

I think this is the key that we must remember as we consider Silent Saturday:

The middle moment wasn’t the final moment.

And because this is true it means…

YOUR MIDDLE MOMENT ISN’T YOUR FINAL MOMENT.

The story of Jesus doesn’t end on Saturday.

And because of that, your story — no matter how silent it may feel right now — is not yet over.

So here is a reflection for you today:

What do we need to remember from Silent Saturday, even as we navigate our own "middle moments"?

Remember:

God's silence is not a sign of His absence.

Where you find yourself currently is not the end of the story.

Our hope is rooted in something bigger than our current circumstances.

If you find yourself in a middle moment today, remember — because of the Resurrection, it is not your final moment. Hang on to hope.

Sunday is coming.