Tekon on the beach with his boat, painted with the phrase “God there” which gives him courage as he heads out to sea.
“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 the body.”
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you,
because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The bodies of those crucified were usually left on the cross to decay. Joseph of Arimathea has been a secret follower of Jesus, but now he finds the courage to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. He acts despite the fear he must have felt, in order to ensure the lifeless body of his teacher is, at least now, treated with dignity and gentleness.
The fishermen in Liberia face their fears every time they go out to sea. Tekon shares how his faith gives him the courage to do what he must for his family.
“We just pray – a short prayer – and we say our family motto: ‘Godere’. It means God is there. God is ahead. God is going to help me and provide safety.”
We pray that at times of difficulty we too will have the courage to take action, to face our fears and to do what is right, treating others as we would wish to be treated.
Prayer
Jesus, you knew what it meant to have friends,
who risked their own lives to take your body from the cross.
Walk with us.
Show us how to be friends to those close to us and to those far away.
Teach us to see you in everybody,
to be kind, loving and strong.
To be like you.
Amen.
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