"SHHHHH, Jesus is sleeping." 

Matthew 18:1-6

These were the precious words uttered by little Christopher on Good Friday following the service of the "Burial of the Lord". 

While the comment is obviously cuter than words can express, coming from the mouth of a "babe" it encapsulates the depth of saving faith in such a profound way. 

Good Friday, of course, is the day of the Lord's burial.  It is both the saddest and most joyful day for Christians.  It means, as the eminent Orthodox theologian, the late Fr.  Alexander Schmemann says, "bright sadness."  We know that Lent and more specifically Holy Week prescribes many restrictions on us, from fasting, abstention and vigilance in sobriety and austerity, yet all designed for our sakes in order to create the environment where our hearts are softened in order to open up our souls to the mysterious, majestic and hidden realities of God's love manifest in Christ's sufferings, death and resurrection.

The simple "childish" statement shows the Heart of God and the faith with which the Kingdom of Heaven is opened to us.  Our Lord says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."[1]  I am so thankful that the summary of my entire Lenten and Holy Week experience was highlighted by these simple few words uttered from the mouth of one of my littlest parishioners.  Out of his mouth, God blessed me and stirred once again the faith for which I have devoted my life to confess.  It carries with it the remembrance that Jesus will awake, He will be victorious, He will rise again!   This is the Joy which is expressed in St. Paul's hope in the Resurrection saying, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"[2]

I thank the Lord for His kindness and for His gentle and loving reminders about the humility with which we are all called to live and worship through the mouths of babes, through whom You have perfected praise.

God bless each and every one of you and rejoice in the good news that;

Christ is Risen.  Blessed be the Resurrection of Christ.

In Christ's love

Der Shnork