What is Holy Saturday? Well, beyond being the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday?
Holy Saturday is historically committed to preparing for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. A few LCMS churches hold an Easter Vigil worship service. This is often the service of Vespers. The Lord’s Supper is historically not celebrated on Holy Saturday, reserving the sacrament for Easter Sunday.
The recommended Scripture readings have a strong connection to baptism. For example, the Old Testament reading is often Exodus chapter 14, about Israel passing through the Red Sea. The epistle is from Romans chapter 6, which teaches about baptism. The Gospel Lesson is usually the appointed lesson for Easter Sunday.
Earlier in the history of the Lutheran church focused on Jesus’ decent into hell. This prepared God’s people for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection the next day. It was also more common to have Holy Saturday prayer vigils. The prayer vigils went all Saturday night, evening with the Easter Sunrise Worship Service.
The Lord’s blessings upon your Holy Saturday this year, as we prepare for celebrate the greatest event in human history the next morning: Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Kevin Wilson 360 