Good afternoon. Summer has come to London with a nice 25 degrees at 3pm and the parks thriving with a social distancing population walking and exercising.

As bad and all as this virus is, thank God it did not come in the middle of summer.

On a more spiritual note today is Holy Saturday. Jesus died at 3pm yesterday and he rose from the dead tomorrow morning so that just leaves a little bit of a puzzle in relation to today!

Tradition teaches us that heaven was closed until Jesus resurrected meaning that even good souls such as the old testament prophets, Jesus’ grandparents (St. Anne & St. Joakim) did not go to heaven when they died.

Instead we believe they went to a sort of waiting room and it was only when Jesus died and descended into hell that they were freed and taken to heaven with Him.

To be honest we don’t know all the details and explanations and I guess we will have to wait until we get to heaven to find some of them.

Anyway with this in mind, let us read together the second reading from the office of readings which will be read all over the world today.

Jesus is now in hell and let’s imagine him meeting Adam. I have added a few pictures to help illustrate.

Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.

For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.

I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.

Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

Although we are still alive, we too can put ourselves in the place of suffering Adam waiting to be freed and released.

Many souls live a type of hell on earth due to illnesses and addictions and they too need the freeing power of the risen Jesus.

Let us pray today for such souls. That Jesus may descend into the hell of each person’s mind who is tormented by guilt, shame, fear and addiction. That His healing hand may forgive and release them from the powers of darkness and draw them into the light of the Christian family here on earth and the eternal joy of heaven in the next life.

Praying and blessing you all with the healing power of Jesus and wishing you all a very peaceful and prayerful Holy Saturday.

Love and blessings,

Michael