Simon and Joseph
FREE Catholic Classes
y Fr. Robert J. Carr
You caught me!! Yes, in my haste to write my review of "The Passion" I mixed up Joseph of Arimathea and Simon the Cyrene. It was indeed, Simon who carried the Cross and Joseph who offered the tomb.
Strangely, one of my favorite Easter jokes involves Joseph just because he owned the tomb. You may have heard it.
The family of Joseph of Arimathea was extremely angry with him that he gave Jesus the tomb for his burial. They complained that tombs are expensive and now they had to buy another tomb. Joseph, however, comforted them. "Don't worry." He said. "He only needs it for the weekend!"
I think the incident also leads to a reflection on the difference between Simon and Joseph. When we think of Simon we think of the man who carried the cross. He is the man we can identify with at Lent. We seek Christ, we live Christ and we adore Christ. Lent is when we with Christ carry our crosses in service to him.
Joseph reminds us of where we are going. We are walking to a used but empty tomb. Joseph is the Easter vision of our ultimate focus of the joy beyond all joys, the truth beyond all truths in the kingdom beyond all kingdoms.
We can identify at times with one and at times with the other. However, we need to be careful not to identify with one without being mindful of the other.
Paul gives us a similar warning. We never talk about the cross without the resurrection. Equally we never talk about the resurrection without the cross.
Jesus died and rose. Socrates died, he has never risen. If we think of Jesus in terms of Simon without Joseph we think of a philosopher who had many wise sayings but who's time has passed.
If we think of Jesus in terms of Joseph without Simon, we focus on an easily reached Heaven for which Earth is nothing more than the bus station.
It is when we see Jesus in terms of Simon and Joseph that we see the cross and the glory, the pilgrimage and the destination, the present striving for truth and the future joy of living in truth.
Simon and Joseph both had a part in Jesus death and resurrection. We cannot ignore them and we do not want to get them mixed up.
The parent for example can find the difficulties of raising a teenager overwhelming and not focus on the fruit of a grown adult with a loving family.
The policeman can find the difficulties of arresting a drug dealer painful enough that he does not see his work as the first step to a change of life in the grace of God's discipline.
The courageous Catholics may find the difficulties of living the faith strong enough not to see those people who's lives who have changed because of their strong example.
We are a resurrection people who believe in the cross. We are never one without the other.
Simon and Joseph both played a part in Jesus' death and resurrection. I am happy to see how many know that Simon carried the cross and Joseph supplied the tomb. Thanks for the e-mails.
Contact
Catholicism Anew
http://www.catholicismanew.org
MA, US
Fr. Robert J. Carr - parochial vicar, 617 542-5682
frbobcarr@catholicismanew.org
Keywords
The Passion, Way of the Cross
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >