In the tomb

Today is Holy Saturday, a day about which the scripture is almost silent. There is the reference in I Peter 4:6,

"For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God."

Jesus is seen as the one who preached to the dead on the Saturday his body lay in the tomb.

All of us will join with the nine people who will be baptized at tomorrow's Easter celebration in saying the Apostle's Creed as part of the baptism. That creed has been used for baptisms at least since 150 a.d. In part the creed states,

He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.

The Orthodox icon here is of Jesus' descent among the dead. It shows Jesus' activity to redeem everyone even when, to his disciples and those on earth, he was dead and his ministry complete. While we wait in anticipation of the joy of Easter, Jesus shows that he wants to reach out to everyone to draw them into the reach of his saving embrace. Tonight, we begin the Easter celebration with the vigil at 7 p.m.—the coolest worship service of the year.