[Salvation]

April 7, 2007

The Tomb

All four Gospels describe the burial of Jesus and indicate that he was buried in a cave-like tomb, which was common at that time. Some can still be seen in the Jerusalem area.

Such caves, carved out of rock, were designed for the burial of more than one family member. When someone died, the corpse was laid out in one of several niches cut into the wall – something like the bunks on a large ship

After about a year, when the body had decomposed and only the bones were left, these would be placed in a much smaller box which was put in another part of the cave leaving the niche free for another corpse.

In this way, one tomb could be used not only for an entire family, but for succeeding generations.

The entrance into the cave was closed off by a large circular stone that could be rolled away when it was necessary to enter the tomb.

[Salvation]

Holy Saturday

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciples of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.

But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb. Mt. 27:57-61

The book of Deuteronomy stipulates: “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his corpse hung on a tree, it shall not remain on the tree overnight. You shall bury it the same day.

Joseph of Arimathea comes to see that this is done. It’s interesting. In the space of three sentences he arrives and departs, never to be heard from or spoken of again. He’s somewhat like Simon of Cyrene, or the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus at the beginning of the Passion account. They are front and center only briefly, and we know nothing about them before or after

Each of us is created and placed here by God, at this particular time in history, in this particular place, and given a role by God that is given to no one else.

The disciples will be seen just one more time in Matthew’s Gospel – after the resurrection – and it isn’t entirely laudatory.

My life’s work may not appear in the history books. But God uses a different book.

Holy Saturday is a good day for thoughts like that. Sit there facing the tomb with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and see what thoughts come your way.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.