Three Days

Today is March 21, and I admit I thought this was the first day of spring 2020.  I was wrong.  On Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 11:50 p.m. EDT, we welcomed the official arrival of spring with the Vernal Equinox. This was the moment in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun crossed the equator and the days and nights were equal in hours.  I was off by about a day, but who cares?  The hours of day now exceed those of night.  Finally! We are moving out of winter’s dark woods.

Consistent with the arrival of spring is our first reading from Hosea (6:1-6) who said: “Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” 

Noteworthy about this reading is Hosea’s reference to three days with our being raised up on the third to live in the LORD’s presence.   It would seem the Gospel writers’ description of Jesus being in the tomb for three days (and nights) was based at least somewhat on Hosea’s prophecy.

In spring we symbolically rise from our dark and wintry tombs to be healed by light and rain – to reflect on and to appreciate God’s creation of which we all are a part.  We live in God’s presence – our God who revives us when we are down and out, our God who binds our wounds.

Deacon David Pierce