Holy Saturday 2023 - Morning Prayer - Awake O Sleeper

 I remember my first holy Saturday as a seminarian. I was home for the triduum, and I went to pray in my home parish church. And I brought with me my breviary, the liturgy of the hours. And I remember being deeply moved by what is called the patristic reading for matins, the first hour of the day. For matins there are two lengthy readings that follow the psalms: a reading from scripture and then a reading from the church fathers. 

On Holy Saturday — the day Christ lies in the tomb — the patristic reading is titled “from an ancient homily on holy Saturday”. Normally, the title includes who wrote it, but this reading is mysterious.

 Some scholars believe that the homily was composed by Melito, bishop of Sardis, who died around the year 180, because it is similar to Melito’s renowned “Homily on the Passover.” But in fact, we don’t know who the author is.

Well, this reading, this homily tells the story of Christ’s triumphal descent into hell. The Apostles’ Creed professes that Christ “descended into hell” after dying on the cross. And this homily gives a dramatic rendering of Christ’s appearance in the place of the dead where he encounters Adam and Eve, and all the faithful, who are waiting for deliverance.

Holy Saturday is not just the day that we wait quietly and mournfully with Christ in the tomb. We also recognize that on this day Christ also descended to the place of the dead and rescued all faithful souls, bringing them into the full glory of His Father’s kingdom. 

Listen to the mysterious opening verses of this homily: 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 (Luke 1:79), 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.’ (Ephesians 5:14)

‘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.

If you have the chance, read the rest of this ancient homily for yourselves today. You can download the breviary app on your phone or simply google: “Ancient homily on holy Saturday”. As Christ descended in to hell to wake the sleepers, those who awaited salvation, the Lord stirs in our hearts today as we await the great celebration of easter. May he rouse those sleeping parts of our souls, that they may rejoice with Easter jubilation, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.