Sábado Santo

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


I grew up on Okinawa. People bury their loved ones in family tombs, and these tombs cover the hillsides of the island. When we first returned to the U.S., we were confused as the hills around San José, California, had no tombs at all. This style tomb is called Kamedo-baka, or Turtle-back tomb. When I think of Jesus' body in the tomb for three days, I can't help but imagine it was a tomb like this.