Jesus has now completed his sacrificial agony and death. In the process He has meritoriously justified the entire human race. Joseph of Arimathea boldly goes to Pilate to ask for the body of Christ. During a time when many are concealing any relationship they may have had with Jesus we find Joseph a Jew who is not concerned of his own welfare, but is more concerned with the body of Jesus. Joseph exemplified courage, daring, and extreme conduct at a time when many were afraid to be associated with Christ. We get a glimpse into the background of Joseph and especially his spirituality in verse 43. Joseph was among many who were looking for the kingdom of God. The mentality that Joseph had and many like him to the present day is that seeker mentality. Joseph knew of the promises of the Messiah and apparently he had become convinced that this Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This alone is what enabled him to reveal such boldness and courage in light of the opposition demonstrated by the High Priest and Pontius Pilate. Evidently in the process Joseph fulfills the words of Jesus in his actions. "Ask, and it will be given; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened for you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Jn.7:7-8)
It is a very noble demonstration to wait and seek for God's kingdom. But when one takes this position of faith the reward is to witness it revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. I am sure that when Joseph heard of the resurrection of Jesus that he was elated that he gave of his tomb, and that it would later be one of the details that would confirm the story of the resurrected savior. What was special is that this tomb was new and no other remains were put their prior to the death of Jesus. One act of boldness and faith made all the difference in Joseph's life. How many times are we given an opportunity to lend a hand to the work of Christ by taking a step out that might require a little boldness and faith. Joseph was happy to participate in what he had come to know was the kingdom of God through the work of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Joseph saw the sovereign authoritative will of God before his very eyes, and in this, the possibility of the New Birth experienced by believers in the finished work of Christ at Calvary. Joseph is now one of many Jews who will experience salvation and the fulfilling of the law through the sacrificial work of Christ. All this and to have Jesus laid in your tomb.
Pilate wanted to make certain that Jesus was dead before taking Him down from the cross so there would be no questions asked of him. Pilate did not want to be accused by the Sanhedrin of participating in any falsifying of the whereabouts of the body of Jesus. It was also important that after they wrapped and anointed the body of Jesus for burial that the tomb was to be sealed, and guards placed around it. This would act as a deterrent, to prevent any one from stealing the body and saying that Jesus came alive after death. Everything had been done to prevent any type of misconduct surrounding the body of Jesus. The burial of Christ was a very important part of the closure of His physical earthly life. Without a true death there is no resurrection. It is very much the same with all believers in a spiritual sense. Unless someone dies to self they can never truly experience the resurrected life in the Spirit. The Lenten season gives us an opportunity to get in touch with the concept of dying to self and living for Christ. Being true to thine own self is being true to Christ.
His servants and yours,
Gerard & Yolanda Cleffi Directors
Oratory of Divine Love
An oblation or offering is the giving of something to God. It is offered in such a way that it is destroyed in God's honor, then the offering is a sacrifice. If it is not intended to be destroyed, but rather to be used of for God's work, then it is simply an offering for God.
Walter Farrell, O.P.,S.T.M., Martin J. Healey, S.T.D. My Way of Life, Brooklyn, NY, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Pg.392
Let us pray. Come to live among us, Lord, so that we may always receive your forgiveness and mercy. Jesus our king, clothed in a robe of flesh, give us love, wisdom and understanding at your birth. Reveal to us the mystery of your life, then send us forth to reveal your Word over all the earth. You who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
Marianne Lorraine Trouve, FSP, Favorite Prayers And Novenas, Boston, Pauline Books & Media Pg. 414-415