Welcome to this sacred space. As you come to the columbarium, you are invited to reflect on the moment when Jesus was laid in the tomb—a time of stillness, grief, and waiting. The tomb was not the end of the story, but no one knew that yet. It was a place of silence, of mystery, of deep sorrow. Let this space echo that moment as you hear these words from the Gospel of Matthew 27:57-61:
That evening a man named Joseph came. He was a rich man from Arimathea who had become a disciple of Jesus. He came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission to take it. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had carved out of the rock. After he rolled a large stone at the door of the tomb, he went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting in front of the tomb.
Final Reflection:
Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb with care and reverence. It was a moment of finality, of love expressed through grief. Here, in this place where ashes and names are held with tenderness, allow yourself to pause in the mystery of Holy Saturday—when hope was buried.
Take a seat on one of the benches. Let the silence surround you. Breathe slowly.
Questions for reflection:
What in your life feels like it is in a tomb right now—buried, silent, uncertain?
Can you sit with Jesus in this stillness, not rushing toward resurrection but honoring the space of sorrow and rest?
Who are you remembering today? Hold their names gently in your heart.
Closing Prayer:
God of the tomb,
In this space of silence and shadow,
we remember that even in death, You are near.
Hold our grief, our unanswered questions, and our waiting hearts.
Help us trust that you are still at work in the dark.
May we find rest in Your presence
and hope, even in the waiting.
Amen.
Feel free to linger as long as you need. This is holy ground.
When you are ready, rise and go in peace, embracing the mystery of all that you experienced today.
Thank you for participating in the self-guided prayer stations for Holy Week. If you are interested in receiving more opportunities like this in the future, you are invited to subscribe to Rev. Amber Lea Gray’s substack Wild Grace.
Song Used: Were You There feat. Andrea Thomas by The Vigil Project| Series 1
All songs and videos are covered under the following: CCLI (1706871 ) and CVLI (504362541) and CCS (14256)
