Matthew 27:57-58

"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." 

Reflection by Donna Schaper

When the right person at the right time asks the right donor with the right ask for money, fund raising happens. Likewise, gardeners know that seeds planted in soil too cold will rot rather than grow, starting too soon can actually harm soil. If it is still too wet from melted snow or spring rains, the soil can actually be damaged in ways that will haunt your efforts for the rest of the garden season.  Timing is everything.

Joseph of Armathea asked Pilate the right question at the right time.  He received the body of Jesus, in a way similar to those of us who raise money and plant seeds.  At Easter, receiving the body of Jesus is about spiritual timing.  You can hang on to the dead Jesus too long or not long enough.  You can rush to the resurrection and damage your spiritual soil. You can hear the folk wisdom about "wait a year" after you lose a loved one—and be ready to move on in six months or instead eighteen.
 
Jesus did die; Jesus did rise.  Saturday is too short a time to manage the size of this truth.  Sometimes the folk are right, and sometimes they are wrong about how long grief needs to last.  Readiness to receive the body comes in a glimmer, often, with the fragility of a flower or the magic of money.  We don't need more time — instead we need to know that timing is everything, in life and death as well as seeds and money.

Prayer

Rise with us, Holy Spirit, you who know that Jesus is risen already.  Give us a glimmer of what readiness means.  Amen.

About the Author Donna Schaper is the Senior Minister of Judson Memorial Church in New York City. Her latest work is 20 Ways to Keep Sabbath, from The Pilgrim Press. Check out her work at www.judson.org.