Bishop Melito on Holy Saturday: ´The Whole Earth Keeps Silence Because the King is Asleep´
Catholic online website: (catholic.org)
"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…I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side."
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) – We present an ancient second century homily given on Holy Saturday by Bishop Melito of Sardis. This is the day when we are invited into the deep, hope filled prayer of the whole Church as we prepare for the great Easter Vigil:
´The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep´
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.
