Holy Week devotions - Holy Saturday
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which
He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
~ St. Theresa of Ávila
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How can I stand vigil for Jesus, lighting the way for others to show compassion to the world?
Today is Holy Saturday, also called the Easter Vigil. It is a day to pause and reflect on the physical absence of Jesus from our world. Traditionally, in churches that mark the Easter Vigil, the church is stripped of all colorful decor and darkness fills the worship atmosphere. It is a day to reckon with the reality that 'Christ has no body.'
I was in India last year during monsoon season and there were days and days of rain and wind. For several days, the power was out in the village and we resorted to candles to light the bungalow. The darkness filled the space. But once the flames hit the candle wicks, hope permeated the room. The candles stood vigil until the power was restored. It was a comfort to know that darkness was powerful, but it did not have the final say.
The candle that stands vigil, the light that permeates this darkness in St. Theresa's poem is the phrase "but yours." The Easter message in this sad poem, in this dark day, in the vigil, is the phrase "but yours." Christ does have a BODY - US! Maybe when we ACT as Christ's body, we can end our vigil! Our waiting is over when we show compassion, love and forgiveness to the world!
How can I stand vigil for Jesus, lighting the way for others to show compassion to the world?