Kirkepiscatoid

(Entombment of Christ, detail, Rogier Van der Weyden, 1450, from The Edge of the Enclosure)

Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Mark 15:46-47

God of eternal peace,

In this world of instantaneous communication, we also have the power to not only instantly respond and comfort the afflicted, we have the power to sustain our afflictions upon others. E-mails can go viral, bullies can stalk and continually threaten, and insecure people can pile on the backs of the victimized via social networking. Open our hearts to the value of waiting, the thrift of restraint, and the gift of silent compassion. Close our minds to the trap of snap judgments, the spear of verbal retaliation, and the festering ulcer of backbiting. Let the dead bury the dead in online arguments and controversies. In those times we transgress and respond prematurely in anger or fear, give us hope of the resurrection of broken relationships as time passes and hearts mold to hear your Son’s words and teachings. Amen.