After [Jesus died], Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body. Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.  

In the movie "The Rainmaker," Rudy Baylor loved the law, and even though his family was not totally enamored with his choices, he had become a lawyer. Beginning his practice of law, he immediately began to see the problems and personal horrors of the people he had come to help by being their lawyer. He knew what his professional ethics required him to do. Since he was a lawyer, he had the welfare of his clients at heart, but he felt he had to go further than that. His clients were people who not only needed him as a professional, but also as a friend. Although he knew that he should not become involved in their personal lives—something he had learned in his professional schooling—he also understood the importance of the Christian virtue of caring. 

Scripture does not tell us very much about Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus. The belief of most Scripture scholars is that they were professional people who had come to understand that Jesus was much more than a religious fanatic. They believed in Jesus, and although very cautious, they followed him, even at the moment of his death. Then, casting aside any previous caution, they boldly prepared his body for burial, an act of charity, and a show of love and care for a person whom they had come to respect. Their professional lives involved caring for people in a professional manner, and although personal involvement with the people they were serving was discouraged, both Joseph and Nicodemus knew that they had to go further than what their profession required.

No matter what way of life Christians choose, no matter what professional path they follow, there are certain obligations that arise. Professionally, Christians must follow the ethical standards of their chosen jobs, but they are called to go further than that. Christians are also called to truly care about the people they come to know. Sometimes it means going further than simple professional concern.                       

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son died for us, and at his death, there were people who cared for him in a special way. Among them were professional people who went further than they had to. Help us understand that in our lives, we have to do more than we are required, especially in the area of caring for others. Be with us, we pray. 

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America