The Sixth Sorrow: The Crucifixion and Descent from the Cross
Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. (John 19:38)
St Matthew writes:
He will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
These words were spoken to Mary at the Annunciation. The Archangel Gabriel never told her how he would accomplish it.
Now, in her own arms, she understands. The same Jesus she held in her arms as a child, now she holds once more. Now, however, he is dead.
I will never forget the first time I stood by a mother looking at the body of her deceased child. The sorrow was overwhelming. He was in his thirties. Recently married. Very happy. His parents had been away on vacation when he died unexpectedly. We all met at the funeral home. As I stood on the side of the coffin, the doors were open for the family to enter.
The mother was helped forward by her daughter and husband. There was so much sorrow. She grabbed onto his lifeless body. He was no more. Words were meaningless. We just stood the grieving mother and wept with her.
She looked at us with eyes filled with profound sorrow.
It reminded me of the scene from The Passion of the Christ when Mary is holding Jesus’ lifeless body.
There is total silence. She looks into the camera. Her eyes are filled with immense pain and sadness.
Whose heart is so hard as to not be moved by that scene?
