Joseph of Arimathea - July 30

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm [70], 71; PM Psalm 74; Judges 4:4-23; Acts 1:15-26; Matt. 27:55-66

There is a lot of outrage in the world right now and probably much of it for very good reasons.  And sometimes it feels totally overwhelming with how to respond.  We can’t fix everything, and yet we can do something, and we often are kind of stuck in a place in between trying to figure out what it means to respond to each other, to our loved ones, to people in need, and to a world hurting. 

In today’s Gospel passage, I am drawn to Joseph of Arimathea.  Matthew makes the important distinction that he was a disciple of Jesus, whereas Mark’s Gospel only points to him being a respected member of the council.  Matthew avoids this, likely trying to claim that Joseph wasn’t responsible for Jesus’s condemnation and was a member of the Sanhedrin. 

As I reflect today, I'm not so sure it's a bad thing to remember that Joseph was part of the council. Human beings are complicated, tied up in institutions, relationships, and decisions that are often bigger than ourselves. We are rarely entirely innocent or entirely guilty. Most of us live in the tension of trying to be faithful while navigating flawed families, workplaces, communities, and systems. Joseph reminds us that anyone can become an instrument of grace.

I find this very hopeful. If you are feeling paralyzed in responding to the needs of the world, maybe the simple answer is just do the next faithful thing. Joseph cannot save the world.  That belongs to God alone.  But he can care for one broken body. He can bear witness to love when violence seems to have won. Maybe discipleship is less about being responsible for changing everything and more about refusing to let compassion disappear.

Perhaps that is the invitation for us as well. We cannot heal every wound or solve every crisis that confronts us. The needs of the world are simply too great for each person to bear that weight. But we can honor Christ by caring for the person before us, speaking the truth we have been given to speak, and offering the love we are able to offer. We entrust the rest to God, who has always been in the business of bringing resurrection out of places that look like endings.

John+

Question for Self-Reflection: Where is God inviting you to do the next faithful thing, even if you cannot fix the whole problem?