Great Saturday

of the Light

Today the Church awaits the resurrection of the Lord - the long "Awaited Light." After his crucifixion, the Lord remained in the tomb before his resurrection; and, as the creed reminds us, he descended to hell --the place of the dead-- that his light might shine upon them and that they might rejoice in the light of his face.

As we await the resurrection of Christ, may his death and burial be for us a symbol of faith and repentance. We are called to bury the old man of sin and corruption and put on the new man of glorious life. Thus, we shall live in justice and the holiness of truth.

On this day of waiting and personal preparation for the resurrection, the Divine Mysteries are not celebrated nor is the holy Eucharist distributed, instead the prayer of forgiveness is celebrated. We thus close the great week of the passion of the Lord by washing our hearts with contrition and penance and by reconciling ourselves with one another.

This theme is proclaimed by the B'ootho (Supplication) of St. James for the prayer of Forgiveness:

Come you who are angry,
and make peace with your enemy.
Bow your head before him and
embrace him.
Engrave in yourself the sign
of the Son of God - as he
humbled himself before the
brothers, humble yourself!

May Christ our Light make us worthy of his graces on the glorious day of his manifestation that we may raise glory and thanksgiving to him, now and for ever. Amen.