Death Deconstructed

On Holy Saturday, we wait in contradiction. And the symbols to describe what has happened come from an odd place. Jacques Derrida, while possessing many faults (being both French and a philosopher stand at the top of the list), his theory of deconstruction can help us understand what has happened between the cross and the resurrection. Although (and this should be made perfectly clear), Derrida would almost assuredly not approve of my usage.

Death as a symbol is a perfect declaration of the doctrine of the resurrection. Death must be acknowledged. Pain and suffering cannot be denied. All of life must be embraced including death. Death is the reality of living in the age that is all Holy Saturday.

But it is not the last word. It is struck through. It is negated because there is hope beyond death. Sunday morning dawns and what was so dark is illuminated in the light of Life. And everything has to be reevaluated. Everything has to be reinterpreted.

This is the meaning of Easter. Death is embraced by God completely and in the Resurrection of Christ it is undone. Now we practice resurrection knowing this:

Death.