“He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence.” (Hosea 6:2.)
Origen of Alexandria (part 2 of Pope Benedict’s reflections on Origen) comments on this verse from the Reading proclaimed at Morning Prayer as there is no Mass on Holy Saturday:
“Hear what the prophet says: “God will revive us after two days, and on the third day we shall arise and live in his sight.” The first day is the passion of the Savior for us. The second is the day on which he descended into hell. The third day is the day of resurrection. Therefore on the third day “God went before them, by day in a column of cloud, by night in a column of fire.” But if according to what we said above, the apostle teaches us rightly that the mysteries of baptism are contained in these words, it is necessary that “those who are baptized in Christ are baptized in his death and are buried with him.” [They must] also arise from the dead with him on the third day, according to what the apostle says, “He raised up together with him and at the same time made them sit in the heavenly places.” When, therefore, you shall have undertaken the mystery of the third day, God will begin to lead you and will himself show you the way of salvation.” (Homilies on Exodus, 5.)
Collect
All-powerful and ever-living God,
Your only Son went down among the dead
and rose again in glory.
In Your goodness
raise up Your faithful people,
buried with Him in baptism,
to be one with Him
in the everlasting life of heaven,
where He lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Your only Son went down among the dead
and rose again in glory.
In Your goodness
raise up Your faithful people,
buried with Him in baptism,
to be one with Him
in the everlasting life of heaven,
where He lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
