Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…. – Psalm 23:4
The world sits in stunned silence on this day. Jesus has died and is in the grave.
While we know that this is not the end of the story, it is a part of it. A part of the storied path to eternal life that we dread the most – death. We don’t like to talk about death, we avoid death at all costs. Many of us are listening to the health professionals and are staying in our homes now to avoid the potential of death by world cripling virus.
It’s hard to hear on the news each day the death toll of the coronavirus, but we also know it is not the only cause of death that exists. We also fear cancer, heart attacks, strokes. Murder, traffic accidents, and old age. Yet, if we continued to look around the nation and the world we would even see death claim victims by drug overdose, malnutrition, starvation, and many, many more dreadful things.
We don’t like to talk about death, we remain silent about death, but we know death remains.
On this Holy Saturday, and perhaps especially this year, the words of the Shepherds psalm are ringing in my head, “yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”
Yet, when we follow that verse on through, we hear the resolve, “…I will fear no evil. Thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…” Even if we were set at a table with our enemy, even if we sat at a table with death, we know that goodness and mercy will follow us; that God is with us.
Yes, today the world is in stunned silence, but we have no fear, we believe and know that with the dawn will come a great joy. We wait in silence, now with anticipation; awaiting the news of resurrection.
May God’s presence be with each of you this day, as you rest, waiting on the joy of Easter morning. Amen.
Grace & Peace,
Sam