In the office of reading for Holy Saturday, there's an ancient homily written by someone unknown in the second century which is suitable for deep reflection on this day. In the Apostles' Creed, we say "He descended into hell…" However, Jesus did not go to the place of eternal punishment, but to a place called "Sheol" in Hebrew or "Hades" in Greek, that means "land of the dead." He descended in order to ascend, bringing to heaven those who were the righteous dead — our ancestors in the faith.

As the homily goes, "there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silent because the King is asleep." We contemplate the dead body of Jesus in the tomb with deep silence. At the same time, we imagine His divine soul going into hell to free those held captive since the creation of the world. Jesus grasped the hand of Adam, the first Man. He raised him up, saying, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." At Easter Vigil, we proclaim Christ as the light. He arose from the dead and brought all of us to live in the light.