These are the left and right hands of Jesus ~ the wounds of God reaching far, far into the world to find what God had lost. Us.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
A soldier put a spear into the side of Jesus to be sure he was dead. Blood and water poured out as God's power of love poured out over a world that is often very dirty with selfishness and pride. Pride thinks, "We're the best; it's all ours."
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Jesus never asks us to do anything that he has not done first. and so as soon as the cross was placed in the ground and everything had become very quiet, Jesus said,"Father forgive them they don't know what they are doing." Forgiveness is often very difficult, but it is a big part of following Jesus.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
When Jesus died the sun disappeared and it grew very dark. Human hearts can be dark with hatred. And so I will make this little prayer now, "Shine in our hearts, Lord Jesus!"
Hail Mary, full of grace...
And the ground shook like an earthquake and the stones cracked and broke. There are hearts as cold as ice and as hard as rock. I ask Jesus to warm and soften them.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
They took away the clothes of Jesus. He is like a champion wrestler or a boxer without his shirt. He has won the fight with dark and loveless powers. At Easter Jesus will be dressed in brightness!
Hail Mary, full of grace...
From the cross Jesus told Mary and John to take each other in as a new family. Then when he died, the body of Jesus was taken down put into the arms of his Mother. She held him with the same love she felt at Bethlehem.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Nicodemus was a secret follower of Jesus. He bought the long white cloth that was needed to wrap Jesus' body before burying him. Death does not destroy love.
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Jesus was poor and didn't have his own grave, so Nicodemus gave the tomb he had made for himself and let Jesus be buried there. That was very generous, wasn't it?
Hail Mary, full of grace...
The friends of Jesus buried him in a tomb like a cave that was cut out of the rock mountain. God has gone to a very deep place to find us - to all the places people hide from God's love or wait in death. But God is not a loser!
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Glory be to the Father...
