Stations of the Cross Series, Station #14, Sunday, April 9th by Fr. Ben Daghir & Luke Daghir

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One Thing, Jesus Christ.
Stations of the Cross Series, Station #14, Sunday, April 9th by Fr. Ben Daghir & Luke Daghir

Editor's Note: This article concludes the Stations of the Cross column from Fr. Ben Daghir and Luke Daghir. The writers hope that this series has helped in drawing closer to Jesus Christ. The painting (attached), by Eugene Burnard in 1898, is of Peter and John running to the tomb of Jesus.

Article:
The 14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

In chapter 27 of the Gospel of Matthew we hear that Jesus was laid in the tomb. The rich man, a disciple named Joseph from Arimathea, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Matthew then shares that a huge stone was rolled across the entrance of the tomb (Matthew 27:57-61). Then, Matthew explains that the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate, as they were concerned about the body of Jesus being stolen (remember Jesus had said that His body would be raised after three days). Pilate gave orders for several soldiers to guard the tomb and for the stone to be sealed shut (Matthew 27:62-66). 

GK Chesterton, a renowned British Catholic writer from the early 20th century, said that “death is the great equalizer.” Kings, queens, the wealthy, tyrants, the heroes, the famous, the poor, you, and me - everyone has a last day when one is laid in the tomb. 

However, in Christianity there is a Resurrection. As the Catechism powerfully notes, “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ” (CCC 638). The Resurrection changes everything. The stone has been rolled away. The tomb is empty. 

Jesus promised His apostles that he would rise from the dead. The 1898 Burnard image shows the excitement and anticipation from two of the apostles as they run to the empty tomb. The phrase “Resurrexit sicut dixit” (which means ‘He rose like He said’) became the central message. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.  

The Resurrection is what gave Peter and John the courage to respond to the Sanhedrin in front of the leaders, elders and scribes of the time. Peter and John were taken into custody for “teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the Resurrection of the dead” (Acts 4:2). The Sanhedrin ordered Peter and John to never again speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

Peter and John boldly replied, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). 

Something had happened which changed everything…the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. 

Resurrexit sicut dixit. 

“We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you; because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”

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Luke Daghir is a seminarian for the Diocese of Erie from St. Marys, Pa. He currently studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.