Lent - Day 46 (23/4/2011)

Entombed

Matthew 27:57-61
Mark 15:42-47
Luke 23:50-56
John 19:38-42

Today, Jesus lays silent in His tomb. All of creation waits in silence.
The day before, Good Friday, had been a most traumatic day - full of sorrow, anguish, pain, tears. Two of the followers, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, had lovingly taken the body of Jesus from the Cross and wrapped it in strips of clean linen, with 34 kilograms of spices (myrrh and aloes). They had placed Jesus' body in a tomb cut out of rock.

How did Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus feel as they were engaged in this last act of love for the dead Jesus? They must have been very, very horrified with the numerous and deep wounds on His head, His body, His hands, His feet, His pierced side.

After this, when they went home, what did they do? Did they just sit for hours staring in space - reliving the horror of it all - the injustice, the sham trial, the brutality, the crucifixion, the lifeless body of their beloved rabbi? Did they let their tears flow or did they try to numb their anguish in some mindless activity?

What about the women? It was said, they "were sitting ... opposite the tomb" (Mt 27:61).
They "saw where ... and how ... His body was laid." (Mk 15:47; Lk 23:55) And then, after the Sabbath, they came with spices to anoint Jesus' body. (Mk 16:1) It was an act of love.

How about you? How do you want to spend today? How do you want to be with Jesus, today?

Prayer
Lord, teach me to be silent before You today. Teach me to love You, on the silence.

From Contemplation to Action
For the future - do some act of kindness / love for the deceased.