Holy Saturday ~ Rhubarb

Excerpt from Sr. Moira Quinn’s presentation: The Flowers and Saints of Lent.

After Joseph of Arimathea had taken Jesus’ body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was about to begin.  The women who had come from Galilee with Jesus followed behind, and saw the tomb and the way in which his body was laid. They returned to town and pre-pared spices and perfumed oils. And then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.  ^{Luke 23:53-56}

What was Jesus’ experience in the tomb?  The Apostles’ Creed declares that Christ ‘... descended into hell; (and) on the third day rose again from the dead.’

Look, the Victor over death, Jesus, clasps the first hand he sees, Joseph, his earthly

father.  And right behind Joseph is John the Baptist, his cousin and faithful forerunner and proclaimer of the Lamb of God. Between them, I believe is Mary’s aunt Elizabeth, John’s mother, the first one to recognize Mary as ‘Mother of my Lord.’ Following them are a multitude of holy souls redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice. And with them, all those ready to hear the Word of God and begin new life in Christ.  ‘For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually, and in his spiritual existence he went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.’ ^{1 Peter 3:18-20a}

I paired this solemn day with Rhubarb.   Rhubarb was known by the ancient Greeks for its medicinal powers.  It is at once a symbol of warding off of evil AND reawakening and new beginnings.  After a barren winter, to see the quickly growing blood-red rhubarb stalks with its new yellow leaves emerge from the cold ground reminds one of the Passion of Christ and the Easter candle that banish the darkness.  Rhubarb could be thought of as an allegory of the time between Jesus’ death and resurrection.  A symbol of hope and healing while silence covers the earth on this solemn day.