Divine silence, by Henry Nouwen
There was deep rest around the grave of Jesus. On the seventh day, when the work of creation was completed, God rested. “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating.” (Genesis 2:3).
On the seventh day of the week of our redemption, when Jesus had fulfilled all he was sent by his Father to do, he rested in the tomb, and the women whose hearts were broken with grief rested with him.
Of all the days in history, Holy Saturday - the Saturday during which the body of Jesus lay in the tomb in silence and darkness behind the large stone that was rolled against its entrance (Mark 15:46) - is the day of God’s solitude.
The Paschal Sabbath is the day on which the whole creation waits in deep rest.
It is the day on which no words are spoken, no proclamations made.
The Word of God through whom all had been made lies buried in the darkness of the earth.
This Holy Saturday is the most quiet of all days. …
This divine silence is the most fruitful silence that the world has ever known.
From this silence, the Word will be spoken again and make all things new.