Matthew 27:57-66 NRSVue

⁵⁷When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who also was himself a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth ⁶⁰and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

⁶²The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, his disciples may go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”^{, 66}So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Jesus was charismatic; he impressed those he met and stirred up deep emotion. But he was shy of anyone who made a decision under the influence of that emotion. Those who wanted to follow him were asked first to count the cost.

Reflection
Lord, there have been sweet, uplifting times in my spiritual life, but most of it is everyday struggle. I pray for perseverance rather than rapture.

Reflection
The Saturday of holy week can be an empty day as we wait and just wait for the evening of resurrection. Like the ones who had placed Jesus kindly in their tomb, we wait with him for something new. With Jesus there is always the hint of something new, and even at the tomb they were afraid he might rise.

Reflection
We pray in hope this day - the wood of the cross had within it the sap of hope. It may look like a dead tree, but it is alive with expectation.

Reflection
I think of Pilate and Joseph of Arimathea in the presence of that dead body. Pilate had known Jesus innocent but, fearing for his own position, handed him over to death. Joseph had come to believe and hope in him as a disciple. Pilate wants to get rid of the body. Joseph receives it with deep reverence. I watch him place the body with great love and care in the tomb he had prepared for himself.

Reflection
Joseph goes away. I remain with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, watching, waiting, and reflecting on what has happened over the past days.