Let's go home

Let’s forget it now,

And all go home.

He is buried and the stone is set in place.

His family is in tears, his friends are lost.

This time it is really over.

The Sabbath is almost upon us.

I am filthy, tired, drenched in his sweat, and covered with his blood.

I did what I could, but it wasn’t enough.

No one asked me to.

Up to that time, I’d remained silent, a little afraid of my peers.

People look up to me, but I revered him,

Secretly at first,

But something inside wouldn’t let me keep quiet.

I gave what I could, but it wasn’t enough.

I took his body down from the gallows and

I gave him my tomb

Because I couldn’t bear the thought

Of his body being thrown to the dogs.

I gave up my feast of Passover

Because I’m unclean now, having held his body.

It was the least I could do, but it wasn’t enough.

The stone is in place.

Let’s go, depart this place.

It is not only Jesus who died

But all our hopes and dreams too.

A reflection on Joseph of Arimathea’s thoughts when he took Jesus’ body to his own tomb.

With thanks to Jesus is laid in the tomb by Michel Quoist, Prayers of Life 1963 for inspiration.

untangling the web