Holy Saturday

Absolution and Newness of Life in Christ

God has been at work throughout this Lenten Season rebuilding the walls of His Temple, the Body of Christ, the Church. He has taken us, “living stones, rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious”, and now we “are being built up as a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:4-5). We have repented for our past sins, shortcomings, and failures, and have been forgiven. He has refreshed and renewed us by His life-giving Spirit. Now it is time for us to walk in newness of life in Christ. We have put off the old self and put on the new, and we have begun to be built up in walls of virtue and righteousness. We have received His pardon and absolution. Now is the time to move forward in the power and grace of His Holy Spirit.

As the sun sets this evening we will transition from the 40 days of repentance in the Season of Lent to the 50 days of joy in the glorious celebration of the Resurrection. We are resurrection people! We have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. The tomb is open, the grave has no power to hold us. For “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

The world is watching. The nations are hungering for the sons of righteousness to be revealed. As St. Paul declared, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). Will we accept the call of God to continue to be built up into His Holy Temple? Will we let the light of Christ shine forth from this new Temple? Will we “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2)? He has called us to a new life in Him. Let us walk together in the joy that is set before us, and stand together in virtue and righteousness in the Walls of the New Jerusalem.

Soli Deo gloria — To God Alone Be Glory!