The harrowing of hell

A harrow is a spiked farm implement that is used to break up clods, tear up weeds, and level the ground preparing it for fertile growth. This gives a new meaning to the ancient notion of the “harrowing of hell” on Holy Saturday when Jesus, after his death, descended to shatter the gates of hell to redeem even the dead.  It’s an aspect of the resurrection that we often forget.  Nor do we often recall the risen Jesus, now enfleshed in a new way. His body the evidence of the new life that is now be given for us.  

Notice how the poet imagines the post-resurrection Jesus offering his astonished disciples breakfast of fish and honeycomb.  

Here is the poem: “Ikon: The Harrowing of Hell” 

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Down through the tomb's inward arch

He has shouldered out into Limbo

to gather them, dazed, from dreamless slumber:

the merciful dead, the prophets,

the innocents just His own age and those

unnumbered others waiting here

unaware, in an endless void He is ending

now, stooping to tug at their hands,

to pull them from their sarcophagi,

dazzled, almost unwilling. Didmas,

neighbor in death, Golgotha dust

still streaked on the dried sweat of his body

no one had washed and anointed, is here,

for sequence is not known in Limbo;

the promise, given from cross to cross

at noon, arches beyond sunset and dawn.

All these He will swiftly lead

to the Paradise road: they are safe.

That done, there must take place that struggle

no human presumes to picture:

living, dying, descending to rescue the just

from shadow, were lesser travails

than this: to break

through earth and stone of the faithless world

back to the cold sepulchre, tearstained

stifling shroud; to break from them

back into breath and heartbeat, and walk

the world again, closed into days and weeks again,

wounds of His anguish open, and Spirit

streaming through every cell of flesh

so that if mortal sight could bear

to perceive it, it would be seen

His mortal flesh was lit from within, now,

and aching for home. He must return,

first, in Divine patience, and know

hunger again, and give

to humble friends the joy

of giving Him food--fish and a honeycomb. 

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+Denise Levertov (1923-1997)

Ikon: The Harrowing of Hell

From the collection: Door Hive (1989)