Easter Eve

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It’s called Holy Saturday, though I’ve never fully understood why it’s supposed to be holy. Supposedly Christ descended into Hell during the day that passed between his death and resurrection, and somehow released the righteous from imprisonment (or whatever) there, but I remain unclear just why they were there in the first place, being righteous. Surely there must have been some concept of limbo or purgatory to keep the righteous out of Hell?

Whatever. The event is know as the Harrowing of Hell, and that’s such a phenomenal name that I embrace it even while failing to fully understand it.

Here, all these years after the death of Christ, the day started out rainy, but it was a particular heavy, quiet rain that I love and that makes me want to sit outside listening to it fall. It was too cold for that, so I sat inside, and it was peaceful and pleasant, no one awake but me, the dogs already having breakfasted and fallen back to sleep. The day descended into a gloomy, dank spring cold after the rain, but just past midday the sun has emerged, and spring invites. It’s a kind of microtelling of the Easter story.

“Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus Christ lay in the tomb after his death, according to the Christian bible. It is the day after Good Friday and the day before Easter Sunday. It is also known as Easter Eve, EasterEven, Black Saturday, or the Saturday before Easter.”

That’s what timeanddate.com has to say about Holy Saturday, and I absolutely love the seriousness of the delivery of that last reference: “…or the Saturday before Easter.” Are the editors being droll? I can’t tell.

My garden finally realized this week that it’s springtime, with crocuses trying to bloom before the bunnies eat them; hyacinths, daffodils and early tulips emerging; and buds emerging even on the roses. The lilacs began budding a couple of weeks back, optimists that they are; but their friends throughout the rest of the garden just couldn’t believe they were right. Now they know who’s boss.

“…When God created foliage,
God decided to design new patterns.
Even the elders exclaimed over God’s
grand visions….”

–Kristin Berkey-Abbott, “When God Switched Fabrics”

I just ran across that on Escape Into Life, and was smitten. You’ll thank yourself if you click through on the link and read the rest of the poem.

I’m going to look for spring poetry this weekend to bathe my soul in the emerging warmth and light and greenery–Hallelujah, greenery!—of the season. I hope (but have not pledged) to read a poem a day during National Poetry Month in April, so bring on your suggestions for poets or poems.

Meanwhile, one of my favorite artists on Escape Into Life, Alexandra Eldridge, has been sharing a bunny a day for the last week on Facebook and Twitter. Here’s one of my favorites on this final day of March:

Rabbit, rabbit!!

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