2026-04-04 - HOLY SATURDAY 2026 REFLECTION: THE VOID Author: Fr. Uzochukwu Njoku
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
Gosepl reading: Matt 26: 59-60
So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Reflection
Today is Holy Saturday. We have commemorated the death of Christ yesterday (Good Friday). On Good Friday God died. Heaven remained silent. The cries Jesus: "my God, my God why have you forsaken me", received no reply. Men jeered at him. The powerful made mockery of him. He trusted in God let him save him. On Good Friday, God did not save Jesus. Jesus died. Everything about became object of ridicule. He was mercilessly crushed and brought low. He bowed down his head and died - died with ignominy. God died in the flesh. "He came to his own but his own rejected him."
Silence has enveloped the earth. Darkness has covered the earth. Creation is thrown into a void. The Lord is laid in the tomb and "they sealed the tomb and all came sorrowfully away." He died because the God whom he trusted did not save him. He died because his cries were not heard. We are therefore forced to raise questions. Is it still necessary to pray? Can God still hear prayers? Does God still have the power to save those who cry to him?
In the agonies of Jesus, we encounter the agonies and cries of many brothers and sisters.
Jesus lies in the tomb today. What becomes of him? What is the fate of those who believed in him and followed him around? Simply, no answer. There are more questions than answers. There is frustration and confusion. There is an empty void. Holy Saturday represents this void and the silence of God between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. What should we believe and what should we not believe? Should we still remain steadfast in faith or should we try something else? Can we ever come out of this difficult situation? From where shall come my help?
The reality of Holy Saturday replays itself in our lives periodically, in those moments of spiritual aridity. Holy Saturday replays itself in those moments when we feel abandoned by God and other human beings. Holy Saturday replays itself inbthose moments when we do not know how to move on. Holy Saturday replays itself in those moments when life no longer appears worth living. Yes, this void is real. Some people have more voids than others. Some people encounter it more frequently than others. Some people experience it for a longer period while some people experience it only for a brief moment.
Yes, today Jesus lies in the tomb but tomorrow he will resurrect. Today, God kept silent but tomorrow he will answer in a resounding manner. The story of Jesus is also our own story. He descended into hell. Therefore, when we descend into our own void, we can draw hope from him. The story of Jesus did not end with death and burial. Therefore, that problem you are facing today will not swallow you. The spiritual emptiness which you currently experience should not push you into a deeper void or permanently destroy your life.
Today, let us reflect on our own various moments of despair and void. Let us remember those who are struggling with loss of hope and for whom God no longer exists. Courage, my brothren! "Onward Christian soldiers!" May we never give up.
Let us Pray
I pray for you this morning and speak words of hope to you as you struggle to make meaning out of life. I pray that your present state of difficulty will not permanently destroy you and derail your life. I pray that in the midst of your struggles and problems you may see the light of Jesus who tells you courage: I once laid in the tomb but later I rose. May the glory of Easter morning encourage us never to loose faith in God. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord, amen.
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