Colloquy on Matthew 27:57-61

  
From this afternoon’s Lectio Divina at Ignatian Spirituality course…

“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.” Matthew 27:57-61 (NRSV)
Joseph, dearest Joseph

You watched from a distance

As Jesus hung upon the cross

You saw each agonizing breath he took

You heard each mockers screech

Was your heart breaking to see

Your Jesus hanging on that tree

Did you cringe as he cried out to God

My God why have you forgotten me

Did you feel an emptiness within

When he said it is finished

Could you even breathe

When he took his last and final breath
Joseph, dearest Joseph

As you took his body down

Battered, shattered, torn

Did your own tears flow down

Mingling with his sweat and blood

Even though you were hurried

Did you pray for time to slow

So that you could properly prepare

The empty, broken shell 

That had been your living Lord
Joseph, dearest Joseph

Did you even see

The Mary’s sitting there

Their own hearts broken

Their dreams shattered too

As you walked away

Tears streaming down your face

Did you ever think

You would ever hope

You would ever love

You would ever be loved

As you did when he walked with you