Joseph of Arimathea

Thursday, August 3, 2006 -- Week of Proper 12

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this link -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 977)
Psalm [70], 71 (morning) // 74 (evening)
Judges 4:4-23
Acts 1:15-26
Matthew 27:55-66

Today we read Matthew's gospel account of the act of Joseph of Arimathea to provide a burial place for Jesus. (Joseph's feast day was Tuesday.) Matthew identifies him as "a rich man." Mark and Luke identify him as a member of the ruling council of the Sanhedrin which had condemned Jesus. John and Mark say that he was a disciple of Jesus, though John says he was a secret disciple because of fear. Luke describes him as a "good and righteous" man. In Mark's account, the "whole council" of the Sanhedrin is implicated as "looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death."

So Joseph of Arimathea is something of an icon for us. He is a person of power and community standing. He is a person of wealth. He is part of an institution that enacts injustice, yet he finds a way to act justly, with compassion.

Joseph uses his standing and his wealth to do something that may have been costly for him in several regards. He uses his connections to ask for the body of Jesus and he generously provides for a dignified burial in his own new tomb.

Jesus was a convicted and executed capital criminal. He had been condemned as deserving death on a charge of blasphemy by the religious authorities, the high priests and the Sanhedrin. Jesus had attacked the venerable and powerful religious institution of the Temple in Jerusalem and deserved to die. He had been convicted of treason or rebellion against the Empire and ordered to be tortured and publicly killed by crucifixion by Pilate the Roman political authority. For Joseph of Arimathea to use some of his personal capital to ask Pilate for the body of a rebel he has just executed took some courage. (Pilate was recalled to Rome a few years later for his heavy-handed dealing with disorders, and Rome had a pretty strong stomach for violent response to disorder.) How might it appear to both the political powers and the religious authorities that their friend Joseph showed kind interest in this criminal Jesus?

He gave of his own personal wealth to provide for Jesus burial. This would have been unexpected, bordering on the rebellious. More commonly the bodies of crucified criminals were left on the cross to be picked apart by carrion birds, the bones to be carried away by dogs. Part of the indignity and punishment was the horror of having no place of burial or remembrance. The person disappeared in the most undignified way possible. Joseph used his own personal power and wealth to act with compassion and courage toward Jesus. It was a costly act.

Joseph of Arimathea is a patron saint for those of us who enjoy a degree of power and for those of us who have some wealth. Thinking globally, each one of us as Americans enjoy unique status as members of the most powerful and wealthy nation in the world. Joseph is a model for us.

Joseph is an icon for the wealthy and powerful. How do you use your power or your influence? Are you willing to risk it on behalf of something or someone who may be right, but unpopular or out of favor? How do you use your wealth? Are you generous, especially in compassion to the weak or unfavored.

There are several places in scripture that speak sharply to the wealthy. Can a person be wealthy and faithful? "It is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven." Joseph stands as a model for a person of wealth and power who uses those gifts generously for good.

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR