Ask

“Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.” (John 19:40).

Christ and Nicodemus (Matthias Strom)

I had a pretty big problem the other day.  It was not terrible or life threatening, but it was certainly something that troubled my soul very much.  I was heartbroken for a little while.  And perhaps – with hindsight – that heartbreak was misplaced, but I wonder if it really was.  It was a recognition of shattered hopes and dreams and to be honest, it felt like a terrible sad and lonely time in my life while this short period lasted…

During that time, I continued about my life as usual.  I was perhaps a little more quiet than I would otherwise be.  I was also perhaps a little more negative and pessimistic than I would otherwise be, and I was perhaps a lot faster to anger and shorter of patience.

And while I was working at my desk one day – almost on the verge of tears – I looked over at one of my photographs of Saint Padre Pio and it suddenly occurred to me that I needed to change my attitude.  The problem that I was experiencing – though not my fault or the result of my actions – could be improved if I were to change my attitude in dealing with the issue.

If I were to take a more humble attitude and ask for help – even when I did not want or need it – I would be able to alleviate so much of the issue.

And this reminded me of the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus…  “Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘You must be born anew’... Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can this be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen...  No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.’” (John 3:7b-15).

Nicodemus was a doctor of the law and a teacher of Israel.  He was arguably an expert on the rules and the scriptures and the religion.  And yet, his attitude of humility – his ability to ASK Christ the questions for which he did not have any answers meant that he was able to attain a greater serenity and a stronger connection to Christ…  That ability to admit weakness and seek further understanding was his tool to build his strength…

And it was that which prepared Nicodemus to stand with Christ when He died and take Him down from the Cross…  “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.  He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen.” (John 19:38-40).

And I have been thinking about that today.  For that ability to ask was rewarded with the honour of burying the Body of God Himself…

And what Grace there must be in that…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.