The Reading
Matthew 27:55-66 (NRSV)
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. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, `After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, `He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
"The two Marys watch the tomb of Jesus" by James Jacques Tissot (French painter and illustrator, 1836-1902).
The Reflection by Michael Compton
In
the middle of the story about Joseph’s kindness and the Pharisees’
fear, Matthew says simply that two women that night were “sitting
opposite the tomb.” Why does he include this detail? I think Matthew
wants to remind us, even after Jesus is put in the tomb, that death does
not have the last word. The women sitting in the darkness are about
to fulfill what Matthew quoted in 4:16, “Light has arisen for those who
sit in the place and shadow of death.” In times of darkness &
death, we need to remember that the victory has already been won – the
light has already dawned!
Collect for Holy Saturday
“O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” [BCP 211]