Today, many of us will have endured a flavour of the death of Our Lord. It is a day when some us of had a chance to share in the words of the Passion during our liturgies. Today is a day of noiseless noise. Today is a day when silence screamed, when moments collided into a truth that an innocent man died because of us.
Jesus's last words numbered 'It is finished' among them, and for him, in his earthly form, that was the case. Jesus died a complete an absolute human death, nothing less. This Station reminds us that even after the horrors just witnessed, there is work to be done. For a whole manner of religious reasons, the body of Jesus could not remain dangling and festering. For yet more emotional reasons, those who loved Christ had this moment to minister to him one a final way. To them, he was still a much loved friend and son, a leader, a hero. He received the burial that he deserved, so incongruous given his mongrel's execution.
Much is said about the differences between having faith and being religious, with religion often coming off worse in this day and age. However, those of us who are religious know something of its duties. Every time we go to worship God in church, we dutifully take our place in a line of people that spans our globe - all doing what is needed, what has to be done. Religious people take faith, stand up, and are counted. Oddly, in this epilogue to the crucifixion, an event precipitated by religion and fear, we see one that was concluded so tenderly by religion and love. But for now, sleep my Saviour, sleep.
Then Joseph brought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb [Mk 15: 46]
My prayer at this Station is for those who have died this day, and those who mourn their passing. I pray especially for those who have died at the hands of others, and in violent circumstances.
Lord Jesus, Lord of life, you became as nothing for us:be with those who feel worthless and as nothing in the world’s eyes.You were laid in a cold, dark tomb and hidden from sight:be with all who suffer and die in secret,hidden from the eyes of the world.To you, Jesus, your rigid body imprisoned in a tomb,be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,now and for ever. Amen
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