LENT: The day between those other days
It’s the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. It doesn’t have a name that I am aware of. There’s Holy Thursday, Good Friday, (Saturday), and Easter Sunday. Why is Saturday just Saturday? No services. No special Liturgy. Nothing to go on. There is almost no mention of this day in the Gospels. It's unfair. I’d like to propose a name: “Hangover Saturday.”
A really bad hangover leaves you feeling dry, empty, and somewhat confused about the events of the previous night. Did that really happen? You just want to go back to bed. Nothing is desirable at the moment: light, noise, food, thoughts. This is how I imagine Jesus’ followers felt on Hangover Saturday.
Gradually they came into the day, awakened to its reality. Jesus had been crucified. There was nowhere to go, nothing fitting to read, just wondering where to go from here.
We, of course, are spoiled by hindsight. The hangover today – if there is one - isn’t that bad because, honestly, last night wasn’t that bad. Some of us gathered together to remember the crucifixion. We talked about it and meditated on the accounts of it in Scripture. We observed the cross symbolically in communion and dispersed quietly to our respective homes. It was somber and at times lonely, a truly meaningful remembrance of the cross.
But remembrance is nothing like first-hand experience. Last night was delightful compared to the first Good Friday. And consequently, today is ordinary compared to the first Hangover Saturday. I’m not saying this is wrong, just the way it is.
I do have a suggestion, though, for those who wish to observe this day in some way. Spend some time considering what it is about God, our world, and your life that perplexes and confuses you. What has you downcast or feeling defeated? What has stranded you with no place to go? In what ways do you feel deceived or disappointed? What would you rather not think about today?
The aim isn’t to find answers, but rather to explore the depth of your questions. This is likely something that you don’t want to do, because these questions often surface pain and expose inadequacies. It would be easier to suppress these thoughts and feelings. And that is what Hangover Saturday is all about.
A really bad hangover leaves you feeling dry, empty, and somewhat confused about the events of the previous night. Did that really happen? You just want to go back to bed. Nothing is desirable at the moment: light, noise, food, thoughts. This is how I imagine Jesus’ followers felt on Hangover Saturday.
Gradually they came into the day, awakened to its reality. Jesus had been crucified. There was nowhere to go, nothing fitting to read, just wondering where to go from here.
We, of course, are spoiled by hindsight. The hangover today – if there is one - isn’t that bad because, honestly, last night wasn’t that bad. Some of us gathered together to remember the crucifixion. We talked about it and meditated on the accounts of it in Scripture. We observed the cross symbolically in communion and dispersed quietly to our respective homes. It was somber and at times lonely, a truly meaningful remembrance of the cross.
But remembrance is nothing like first-hand experience. Last night was delightful compared to the first Good Friday. And consequently, today is ordinary compared to the first Hangover Saturday. I’m not saying this is wrong, just the way it is.
I do have a suggestion, though, for those who wish to observe this day in some way. Spend some time considering what it is about God, our world, and your life that perplexes and confuses you. What has you downcast or feeling defeated? What has stranded you with no place to go? In what ways do you feel deceived or disappointed? What would you rather not think about today?
The aim isn’t to find answers, but rather to explore the depth of your questions. This is likely something that you don’t want to do, because these questions often surface pain and expose inadequacies. It would be easier to suppress these thoughts and feelings. And that is what Hangover Saturday is all about.
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SCRIPTURE READING: Nothing to read, only questions to ask.
posted by Will | 9:48 AM
1 Comments:
Hangover Saturday has always kind of been that lost day. The one where I am not really sure what to do. Should I be sad because Christ is still dead? Should I rejoice over what is coming? This year there wasn't as much confusion, but I think I know why. It was because there wasn't much observance of Lent for me this year. I didn't really do anything differently during this lenten season. I feel like I suffered more (but really I have just been more vocal/whiny about my suffering). I think Good Friday and today (Easter) were less meaningful because of that as well. I didn't care about observing and preparing my heart.
And that sucks. I usually love Easter. This year I drug myself out of bed for a church service I didn't want to go to wearing a suit that I hate. I took 3 naps, did some laundry, ate a ridiculous amount of food and bitched about how I don't want to go back tomorrow. I thought about Jesus maybe twice. All day. On (perhaps) the most significant holiday of the year.
Why did this happen? I set out on Ash Wednesday to read a Psalm every day at lunch. I did that one day. Why do I hate/lack/not desire discipline? Why am I lazy? Why do I not care about my relationship with the Living Christ who "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death" for my sins? I think tomorrow will be hangover Monday for me.
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