Station 14: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

The season of Lent and Jesus' life has come full circle.

I have been meditating on the birth and death of Jesus. One particular detail that stood out to me is the clothing worn in both of these events. In his birth, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths. The cloth was typically made of linen and was intended to keep the baby warm, protected, and feel secure. In his death, Jesus was also wrapped in linen cloths, with a separate cloth used for his head. Here, the cloth was used primarily for preserving the body.

As Jesus was born, he was cleansed with water, dried with a towel, then wrapped in the swaddling cloths in the arms of a loving mother. In stark contrast, before Jesus was buried, he was brutally bruised and tortured, and nailed to cross for the love of us all. In preparation for his burial, his body was thoroughly cleansed, the nails were cleaned and removed, spices and myrrh to preserve and honor the body, and he was finally wrapped in the linen cloths.

This made me think about how I was born and how caring my parents were in making sure I was safe, secure, and loved. I was born with a number of complications but most importantly, I was surrounded by those who cared the most for me. Thanks to my parents, friends, and family, I am lucky and grateful to experience glimpses of God's tender and nurturing love.

This also made me think about how I want to die, and how I am called to live the remainder of my life through the example of Jesus. This year, I am actually turning 33 which I have joked to others that it is my "Jesus year". I have been blessed with a life full of experiences, both lifegiving and challenging. To be honest, I have not lived many of the joyful experiences with gratitude and humility. I have also not suffered through many of the painful experiences with grace, patience, and trust. But with every event, and through my ever-growing relationship with Jesus, my heart has been able to align more and more with his. We are born surrounded by love to live and even die for the love of others.

“We are born surrounded by love to live and even die for the love of others.”

Jesus, you were born in swaddling cloths, and died wrapped in linen, with the same humility. Please renew my heart and guide me to live the remainder of my life with love at the center, bearing my cross with patience, trust and humility, and to trust that all I do is not in vain, but in glory of God the Father. We started the Lenten season with the phrase "For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." We end with "I no longer call you slaves... I have called you friends." Help me to understand your heart and desire for friendship. Amen.

Dan Nguyen

Ignis