The Episcopal Church remembers Joseph of Arimathaea today, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, who was, according to John, a secret disciple of Jesus. John 19: 38. We know very little of Joseph of Arimathaea, but what we do know of him from the Gospel account in John, depicts him as a courageous disciple. While Jesus’ followers were hiding for fear of the Roman and Jewish authorities, Joseph stepped up to the front offering his tomb for Jesus’ burial. Within a few short days, Jesus rose from the dead! What a joy for Joseph to have given his tomb to Jesus, a tomb that would become the empty tomb and which transformed the world. May we lead lives of courage by giving all that we have in sharing the Risen Christ.
The Collect for the day:
Merciful God, whose servant Joseph of Arimathaea with reverence and godly fear prepared the body of our Lord and Savior for burial, and laid it in his own tomb: Grant to us, your faithful people, grace and courage to love and serve Jesus with sincere devotion all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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