Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 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. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise again.” Therefore command that the tomb 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.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.’ So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone. Matthew 27:55-66
There was so much political intrigue and danger for the women followers of Jesus, they could only watch while another took his body and laid it in a tomb rolling a stone in they way. Pilate and the religious leaders were afraid that Jesus' body might be stolen so they put armed guards on watch. What a thing to have to watch from a distance rather than tend to the body of a beloved friend and teacher! How painful it must have been for those women. Yet, they persisted, were faithful, despite their pain, hung on despite all of the dangers, and their faithfulness would let them see the risen Jesus.
Creator of deep mystery and great light
your creation groans in pain and fear
and you provide us with miracles daily.
We think we have to win at everything
yet we know deep inside we always fail
when we are distant from your loving embrace.
Hold us close, wondrous and eternal love
so we might persist and be always faithful
and see the risen Jesus here with us today. Amen.
