In the depths

By Greg Zambrano

“Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice,” Psalms 130. This Scripture verse is a strong supplication towards God. 

Don’t we often find ourselves in a similar feeling or situation? We are at the end of hope, the max of our faith in God and others. 

A personal struggle could have been that, during Lent, Facebook or Instagram was given up or right now someone is fasting for the first time ever but lives near Veterans Boulevard where the temptation for Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and Canes abound. 

Someone else might be trying hard forgive others and not cause further turmoil with actions and reactions. 

During Eastertime, I reflected on the crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every Easter, it seems, I come across the image of Jesus after his death, descending into hell (Sheol, the abode of the dead). As stated in the Apostles’ Creed, “he descended into hell, and on the third day he rose again …”

Tradition and Scripture state that by Jesus’ death on the cross, heaven is open to humankind if is done through Christ. 

On a recent trip to Tennessee, I visited an immense cave with a lake inside called Craighead Caverns (Lost Sea). One does not feel confined here. The cave is so spacious that the U.S. government filled it up with food provisions in the 1960s and planned to evacuate close 20,000 people here if there was a nuclear war. 

I visited the cave on Holy Saturday, and it helped me reflect on what is like to wait for Jesus. Some of the souls in “Sheol” waited for Jesus, waited for a very long time. 

Let us take this grace of Heaven that God is giving us. As a family, let’s immediately give him our yes.