I
post this selection from today's "Office of Readings" each year because
I can't think of a better reflection on Christ's descent to the dead.
Enjoy!
Second reading
From an ancient homily on Holy Saturday
The Lord descends to the dead
Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a
great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the
King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen
asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since
the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly
desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of
death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who
is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the
cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him
Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and
cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him:
“And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up,
saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give
you light.”
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for
you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who
are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be
enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to
awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the
dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who
were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in
me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be
separated.
For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form
of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth
and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like
a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a
garden, I was betrayed to the Judeans in a garden, and I was crucified
in a garden.
See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the
life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I
received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my
back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of
sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree,
for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.
I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in
paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the
pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The
sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against
you.
Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly
paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone
you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life,
but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim
to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as
God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and
eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal
dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie
open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all
eternity.
RESPONSORY
Our shepherd, the source of the water of life, has died. The sun was
darkened when he passed away. But now man’s captor is made captive.
– This is the day when our Savior broke through the gates of death.
He has destroyed the barricades of hell, overthrown the sovereignty of the devil.
– This is the day when our Savior broke through the gates of death.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
All-powerful and ever-living God,
your only Son went down among the dead
and rose again in glory.
In your goodness
raise up your faithful people,
buried with him in baptism,
to be one with him
in the eternal life of heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
