For the six days preceding Easter, beginning on Monday, April 18, Rev. Dr.

Joan
Brown Campbell, Director, Department of Religion, Chautauqua Institution
shares a meditation that will be offered in the Appleton Chapel of the Memorial
Church at Harvard University. All the meditations are focused on Jesus the
Merciful; Jesus the Compassionate. This title is taken from Muslim friends and
teachers who always greet any audience with the words “In the name of Allah,
the Merciful, the Compassionate.” Beginning with Jesus’ call to ministry, and
each day thereafter touches on Jesus’ acts of compassion as set forth in the
biblical parables.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Psalm:
Scripture
John 19: 38 – 42
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus,
though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let
him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came
and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by
night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a
hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the
spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now
there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden
there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so,
because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby,
they laid Jesus there.
Matthew 27: 57 – 61
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named
Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for
the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph
took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own
new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to
the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

It is Saturday. Jesus’ suffering has ended. Sadness hangs heavy in the air. It is
that tearful time known to everyone who has lost a loved one when death
becomes painfully real.

Those who gathered at the foot of the cross have scattered – only a few remain –
the women are named, they ready themselves to “sit Shiva” – they take a chance
that a miracle might occur.

The body of Jesus, as was the custom with those crucified, was simply left on the
ground. There was no ritual burial for one who died so shamefully. In fact, it was
unacceptable, even dangerous, to offer a burial place to one judged so harshly
by the political and religious authorities.

But there was one – one man who quietly and carefully refused to allow those
who took Jesus’ life to shame him further in death. Until this moment in the
telling and retelling of the Easter story, there has been no mention of Joseph of
Arimathea. He was not one of the disciples nor had he been featured in any of
the many parables told by Jesus.

He is simply identified as a follower of Jesus – a believer. He is now, however,

mentioned in 3 gospels: Matthew, Mark and John. Matthew identifies him as a
very rich man. We draw the inference that his wealth marks him as a man of
prominence. John, however, points out the risk that he takes in claiming the
body of Jesus – preparing him for burial in his very own tomb. In this act of
caring and kindness and respect, Joseph risks it all – he is certain that Jesus is
the Messiah. He no doubt says to those he trusts, “It is the least I can do”.

There in lies the lesson – the quiet courage of Joseph of Arimathea stands as
one of the truly heroic acts in the Easter story. He wanted no special credit. He
simply wanted to do what he could, where he was, with what was available to
him. He gave it all for the one who died for all humanity. He dared to put his
faith in a faithful God. Perhaps that is what is required of all of us – not Breaking
News, but a love response to human hurt and grave injustice.

As the skies darken, the women remain at the tomb. You see, it had to be this
way. It was intended that the first witnesses to the resurrection would be the
powerless ones, those who would not doubt the miracle, voices that others might
find incredible. You see, our God is always a God of surprises. We await God’s
continuing surprise in our life.

Prayer
God the merciful, God the compassionate, remind us to surprise ourselves with
acts of compassion that offer life and hope in a world too easily divided. People
too often ignored and discounted awaken us to the truth. For it is in their surprise
that we glimpse the Hope of the Resurrection. Amen.