The sacred space between
Today’s lectionary readings
On Holy Saturday, we stand in that sacred space between sorrow and hope, between the weight of the cross and the promise of Jesus’ resurrection. Today we mourn what happened yesterday on Calvary, but with great anticipation we long for the Eastern Vigil so that we can exult. We must be aware that the cross has incredible meaning for each of us and for everyone we serve.
The Easter Exultet proclaims Jesus as the one “Who for our sake paid Adam’s debt to the eternal Father, and, pouring out his own dear Blood, wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness.” Our past does not determine our future if we but have faith in Jesus Christ.
I often think of this day as the “in-between place” where so many of the people we accompany find themselves. They come to us carrying so many burdens, uncertainties, and questions about what tomorrow will bring. And like the disciples who waited in silence after Good Friday, they are not yet able to see how God is already preparing for the resurrection.
For those of us who labor in charity, Holy Saturday invites a quiet but profound reflection. Our ministry often unfolds in the shadows—behind food pantry shelves, in case management offices, in shelters, at the clinic exam room, in the quiet conversations where someone finally feels safe enough to share their story.
Much of what we do is hidden, unseen, and sometimes unacknowledged. Yet Holy Saturday reminds us that God does some of His most transformative work in the silence, in the waiting, and in the places where hope seems delayed.
As we prepare for the joy of Easter, may Holy Saturday deepen our trust that every act of charity participates in God’s quiet work of resurrection. And may we continue to serve with hearts that believe—even in the waiting—that Christ is already bringing light into every darkness
Save us, Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free.
Deacon Kevin M. Sartorius services as CEO of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.