Guided reflection:

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross told us that grief has stages: Shock, denial, anger, despair, and then renewal. Consider all the stages the disciples went through – the shock of it all, they even denied Jesus and could not believe it was happening… by the time we get to this time in the story, I would imagine they are feeling like robots… just going through the motions of what needs to be done. Clothes need to be selected; burial spices need to be prepared; the body will need to be washed. The women probably did not need to speak the words, their nods and their broken hearts knew what needed to be done. But it was the Sabbath so all needed to rest first, then, early on Sunday, they would meet and do what was necessary. But oh, the waiting hours must have been filled with despair… trying to make sense of it all.

Guided prayer:

“O God, I do not like the waiting times. I have too much time to think and try to figure things out. In the dark of the night I feel despair all around me….but I do what needs to be done. When those dark nights come in my life, be my strength, be my guide, be my hope. Amen”