Something strange is happening

Purple Catholic Saturday Post

Apr 19, 2025

Protect yourself from online scams and internet trackers with NordVPN.

Good morning and happy Saturday. We are nearly through our observance of the Triduum and I want to share with you the second reading from today’s Office of Readings.

As I have often shared before, I love the wisdom we find in these second readings from the Church fathers, the documents of the Second Vatican Council, or the lives of the saints.

Today’s in particular shows the particularly strange feeling we often feel when transitioning from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Our Lord has just been crucified and laid in the tomb.

Now what? I think that is a question many of the disciples asked. What do we do now? As we will learn later from Thomas, it is clear that not all of them really believed that Jesus would be resurrected.

Today’s second reading comes from an ancient homily from Holy Saturday. Some have speculated that it was by St. Melito of Sardis because it is similar to his “Homily on the Passover,” but in reality, the author has remained one of the holy anonymous saints that we will probably never know this side of eternity.

This homily speculates about what Christ was doing on Holy Saturday. As we profess in the creed, Jesus descended to hell before he rose again. This would have happened on Holy Saturday. So, without further ado, here is what our anonymous preacher believes may have happened on this day.

A reading from an ancient homily on Holy Saturday

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 Jews 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.

Christ in Limbo by follower of Hieronymus Bosch, c. 1600. Public domain image.

Ave Maria Radio News

As I mentioned last week in this newsletter and on Thursday on my radio show, beginning Monday, I will be the news anchor on Morning Offering. Tune in at 8am on Ave Maria Radio and Annunciation Radio for great conversation, inspiration, and the day’s headlines.

In the meantime, my news updates will be published on what was the Michigan Mornings® podcast feed, and as such, it has been renamed Ave Maria Radio News. The publish time will also now change to 8:30am eastern.

I appreciate feedback on this and all of my content, so feel free to leave a comment on any of the episodes, a rating, or a review.

Listen to Ave Maria Radio in Michigan!

Ann Arbor / Detroit - 990 AM
Ann Arbor - 107.9 FM
Southfield - 105.5 FM
Bay City / Saginaw - 1440 AM
Midland - 105.9 FM
Lansing - 1390 AM
CLICK HERE to stream online!

Listen to Annunciation Radio in northwest Ohio!

Toledo - 89.7 FM
Mansfield / Lexington - 89.5 FM
Sandusky / Port Clinton - 88.1 FM
Willard - 90.9 FM
Bryan - 89.9 FM

The Stations of the Cross with St. Thomas Aquinas

Dino Piccinini and Matthew Handley
$5.99 paperback / $1.99 Kindle

Meditate upon Jesus' passion and death on the cross with selections from Scripture and St. Thomas Aquinas's writings. Each station features a scripture passage that shares the story of Jesus' walk to Calvary, a reflection on that station from the Summa Theologiae, and a scriptural meditation. Proceeds earned from purchases during Lent will be donated to Aid to the Church in Need.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

The Resurrection of the Lord

As you are undoubtedly aware, we have a longer Easter vigil and a more typical Mass during the day on Easter Sunday. For the vigil readings, click here. Keep in mind that, while it is encouraged to proclaim all of the readings at the vigil, not all parishes do so. So, it is possible you may not hear all of these readings.

During Mass on Sunday, the readings will be Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; and John 20:1-9.

We will also hear the Victimæ paschali laudes proclaimed as well.