Fourteenth Station

“Many factors contributed to the fall if East Germany, state terrorism, the spies, and the opening of the Wall. But it could not have happened without those who gathered to pray and light candles in the St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig, or without and almost naive conviction, that in the end moved the world. That’s the secret of the woman or man of faith. One who knows that the mystery of each person is rooted in the mystery of God and doesn’t take the world’s bottom lines and hard realism as the last word. One who knows that Christ risen from the dead is not deterred by common sense notions of what is possible or impossible. Such folks light their candles, let their lights shine brightly, and commit the rest to God.” Professor Timothy F. Lull, unpublished writings.

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

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. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which was hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb.

You will not abandon me to the grave: Nor let your holy One see corruption.

Let us pray.

O God, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden, and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in the waters of baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns for ever and even. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.