FAUSTI - He is mentioned only here, in John, Joseph of Arimathea... "He asked Pilate" The gift must be asked for: those who do not want it cannot receive it. Joseph desires the Body of Jesus, the definitive gift of God to man. The request was already made by the enemies, so that the bodies would not profane that great day of feast. Here, instead, the Body is asked because it smells of life even the death. Here too, as usual, in the Gospel of John every Word is an open window on the whole Gospel. Now that we are in the finale, it is possible to recognize it: in the Body of Jesus, the flesh of the Word, the whole narrative of God is contained. The enemies have put Him on the cross, and have slaked with vinegar and pierced Him; in response He gives them garments and Spirit, Blood and water. Beyond the mother, what will He offer to the friends who take Him away, welcome and lay Him wrapped in linens and perfumes? What happens to the Body of the Lamb between His death and Resurrection is preparation for the Easter journey, for the definitive exodus, the Lord of life and love enters the underworld and confronts the darkness of death, salary of sin. - Nicodemus is Pharisee and head of the Jews. He went to Jesus in the darkness of the night to come into the light and see the Kingdom of God. Now he has the Body of the King in his arms. Now he sees close up the One whom he has defended. Contemplating the Pierced One, he enters the wound from which he can be reborn again, generated from above, by Water and Spirit. "Bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloe, about a hundred pounds." With Mary he is the first "Christian" ...anointed with the same perfume with which He anoints His Lord. God is Love, perfume poured out is His Name. Now our awakening to Him is also His in us. Whoever looks the Pierced One is drawn to Him: taken by Him, He takes Him with himself. Joseph, a hidden and fearful disciple, dares to go to Pilate to remove Him from the cross. Nicodemus, a nocturnal sympathizer, rushes laden with aromas. It is the first two, taken by this Body, who take Him. So they prepare Easter, His and theirs. The preparation of Easter has two phases: The first is the "delivery" of the Body, already accomplished by Jesus, the second is His "welcome" to be accomplished in us. Just as the Cross of the Son of Man is His exaltation, His being put under the earth smells of mysterious victory. The "hour" of the Son of Man is under the sign of the Glory, which, "from that hour "passes to every brother. Instead of the Shroud, there are "linens". His tomb is our heart, (sarcophagus-phage = eats flesh) that chews His flesh and drinks His Blood to flourish of His Life. Our history is now a whole Holy Saturday in which the Lord, laid in us, illuminates our abysses and makes us come to the light of His Love. The narration of the Passion aimed at making us turn our look towards the Pierced One. Whoever, contemplating His Love, feels his heart pierced (Acts 2:37). Whoever looks at Him, becomes like Joseph and Nicodemus: he takes that Body from which Life and Spirit flows. It is their very heart this tomb. . The burial of Jesus makes the depths of our hearts pass from the slavery of death to the freedom of love. "Since children therefore have in common blood and flesh, He too has become a sharer, in order to reduce to powerlessness through death the one who has the power of death, the devil, and to free those who, fearing death, were subject to slavery for the rest of their lives" (Heb 2:14). - The hour of fulfilment has come. The flesh of the Word, resting in the womb of the earth, leavens it from His life and gives birth to the new world. The Son's inheritance awaits to be accepted by all the brethren, as by the beloved disciple. God's gift is already perfect.
But for us it is still hidden, like the seed under the ground. This earth is now each one of us who takes and eats His Body given for us. The time that is given to us to live is now "preparation" for Easter, ours and of the whole creation. The whole creation groans in labour, waiting for the revelation of God's children.
FAUSTI - He is mentioned only here, in John, Joseph of Arimathea...
RispondiElimina"He asked Pilate" The gift must be asked for: those who do not want it cannot receive it.
Joseph desires the Body of Jesus, the definitive gift of God to man.
The request was already made by the enemies, so that the bodies would not profane that great day of feast. Here, instead, the Body is asked because it smells of life even the death.
Here too, as usual, in the Gospel of John every Word is an open window on the whole Gospel. Now that we are in the finale, it is possible to recognize it: in the Body of Jesus, the flesh of the Word, the whole narrative of God is contained.
The enemies have put Him on the cross, and have slaked with vinegar and pierced Him; in response He gives them garments and Spirit,
Blood and water.
Beyond the mother, what will He offer to the friends who take Him away, welcome and lay Him wrapped in linens and perfumes?
What happens to the Body of the Lamb between His death and Resurrection is preparation for the Easter journey, for the definitive exodus, the Lord of life and love enters the underworld and confronts the darkness of death, salary of sin. - Nicodemus is Pharisee and head of the Jews. He went to Jesus in the darkness of the night to come into the light and see the Kingdom of God. Now he has the Body of the King in his arms.
Now he sees close up the One whom he has defended.
Contemplating the Pierced One, he enters the wound from which he can be reborn again, generated from above, by Water and Spirit.
"Bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloe, about a hundred pounds."
With Mary he is the first "Christian" ...anointed with the same perfume with which He anoints His Lord. God is Love, perfume poured out is His Name.
Now our awakening to Him is also His in us.
Whoever looks the Pierced One is drawn to Him: taken by Him, He takes Him with himself.
Joseph, a hidden and fearful disciple, dares to go to Pilate to remove Him from the cross.
Nicodemus, a nocturnal sympathizer, rushes laden with aromas.
It is the first two, taken by this Body, who take Him.
So they prepare Easter, His and theirs.
The preparation of Easter has two phases:
The first is the "delivery" of the Body, already accomplished by Jesus, the second is His "welcome" to be accomplished in us.
Just as the Cross of the Son of Man is His exaltation, His being put under the earth smells of mysterious victory.
The "hour" of the Son of Man is under the sign of the Glory, which, "from that hour "passes to every brother.
Instead of the Shroud, there are "linens". His tomb is our heart, (sarcophagus-phage = eats flesh) that chews His flesh and drinks His Blood to flourish of His Life.
Our history is now a whole Holy Saturday in which the Lord, laid in us, illuminates our abysses and makes us come to the light of His Love.
The narration of the Passion aimed at making us turn our look towards the Pierced One.
Whoever, contemplating His Love, feels his heart pierced (Acts 2:37).
Whoever looks at Him, becomes like Joseph and Nicodemus: he takes that Body from which Life and Spirit flows. It is their very heart this tomb. .
The burial of Jesus makes the depths of our hearts pass from the slavery of death to the freedom of love. "Since children therefore have in common blood and flesh, He too has become a sharer, in order to reduce to powerlessness through death the one who has the power of death, the devil, and to free those who, fearing death, were subject to slavery for the rest of their lives" (Heb 2:14). - The hour of fulfilment has come. The flesh of the Word, resting in the womb of the earth, leavens it from His life and gives birth to the new world.
The Son's inheritance awaits to be accepted by all the brethren, as by the beloved disciple.
God's gift is already perfect.
But for us it is still hidden, like the seed under the ground.
RispondiEliminaThis earth is now each one of us who takes and eats His Body given for us.
The time that is given to us to live is now "preparation" for Easter, ours and of the whole creation.
The whole creation groans in labour, waiting for the revelation of God's children.