| HILARY of POITIERS. Commentary on Matthew’s Gospel, 33:8.
Joseph asked Pilate for the body of
Christ, he wrapped it in a sheet and he placed it in a new tomb carved in the rock. Then
he rolled a large stone on the Sepulcher’s entrance. Although everything was usual
and it was necessary to bury the One who would resurrect from death, actions were noted in
detail, since each of them had its own importance. Joseph is an apostolic character; for
this reason he is called "Disciple of the Lord" even though he was not one of
the twelve apostles.
He rolled up the body in a white sheet. In that same cloth
we see all kinds of animals coming down from the sky before Peter. We can say that the  Church
is buried with Christ in the name of this cloth, since all the many and different living
species, pure and impure beings, gather in it, as they do in the creed of the Church. So
the body of Christ is placed to rest in a new and empty tomb carved in the rock by the
teachings of the apostles: Christ is placed in the carved heart of pagan hardness by a
work of teaching. That heart before was rude, new and inaccessible to the fear of God.
Isidore of Pelusio.
Letters to Count Doroteo. 1:23.
"The white cloth placed on the altar
for the Eucharistic banquet, reminds us about Joseph of Arimathea’s kind service. In
fact, Joseph wrapped the body of Christ in a white linen and he placed it in the
sepulcher, that was the same body which brought resurrection to all humankind. In the same
way when we consecrate the bread we are before the body of Christ. The immortality that
Jesus our savior gave kindly to us when he was placed in the sepulcher by Joseph and then
resurrected from death, gushes from His body as from a spring.
John of Masceno.
Commentary on John’s Gospel. 85:3.
Then also Nicodemus came to help Joseph
and they gave a dignified burial to Jesus. They still believed he was just a man. They
brought there the most suitable essences to preserve his body for a long time, and so
avoid a premature corruption: this indicates that they did not think much of Christ;
nonetheless they showed him their deep affection. Why did not any of the twelve come?
Neither John nor Peter nor one of the eminent ones came. I could say that they were not
there because they were afraid of the Jews , but the others were afraid of them too:
"Joseph was hiding for fear of the Jews" it is said. I think Joseph was one of
the most distinguished men, as emerges from the fact that he covered all the expenses of
the funeral, and besides, Pilate knew him: for this reason he was granted his request.
Maximus the Confessor.
Life of Mary, 89.
The blessed mother suffered with Joseph
when they descended her Son and King from the Cross. The land was flooded with her tears,
she held in her arms the One that had been descended, she received the nails in her arms,
she tenderly held his wounded limbs, she washed his blood with her tears and bitterly
cried on her son, who was the sweetness desired by men and angels. But when He was
descended from the Cross, and the body of the One who is higher than Heaven touched the
Earth, she fell too and almost collapsed. She washed Him with her warmest tears, and she
proclaimed the praise for his burial with holy words: "Death you are more admirable
than incarnation! The Creator of the souls lies with no soul, the One who gives salvation
to everybody rests like a corpse; the Word of the Father is speechless, his dull eyes are
lifeless, every living creature moves at his word and sign, mountains tumble when they see
him!!!. He watches the Earth and shakes it, He touches the mountains and they smoke
(Psalms, 103,32), He reads men's thoughts, investigates their hearts, He is a witness of
the Word to the Sons of men who look for Him, He enlighten and make the blind wise."
Nerses Snorhali, Jesus
Only Son of the Pure, 758-764
As You did for Joseph of Arimathea,
The righteous and holy disciple,
grant me yourself as a gift from the grace,
You, who give life to everyone.
You were wrapped in a pure sheet,
You were placed in a new tomb;
Do not let me be similar to
Those who go down to the underworld.
Let my soul die before vice,
make it alive with your heavenly soul,
because of the mystery of the holy myrrh
(and) of the pure and lightly scented incense.
You, honored and feared in an invisible way
By the angelic choirs,
You are the same, you are guarded by soldiers,
You, vigilant guardian of Israel.
Protect me with the law
And commit me to the holy angel,
so that he will keep me safe at night
in the invisible battle.
You were sealed with the ring
Of the dissolute sacerdotal guard;
You are treasure of immortal life
You were sealed to the bottom of Earth
Seal the doors of my spirit and of my senses,
where the entrances of good and evil are,
Seal them with the sign of your Cross,
and establish the good in me.
Paolinus of Nola, Carme
III 217-225
Christ, light of the world of the blind , purification
from leper, heard by the deaf, rest for the tired ones, foot for the crippled, tongue for
the mute, redeemer of the world and real salvation for Your people in slavery. Although He
was immortal He suffered the limits of a common burial, and now the One who was placed in
a sepulcher remains in eternity. He was immortal: He died and now He lives; He had been a
man and now is lifted to heaven as God and He is welcomed to His holy home; as the eternal
Lord, He is, He was and He will come again.
Peter of Celle, The school
of the Cloister, 7:98-102
This is the Crucifix that Joseph and Nicodemus, the angel
and the superior one, descended and anointed with a mixture of myrrh and aloe, so that He,
who did not like the corruption in the cloister, will not feel in death the worms that
never die. He will have, with no doubt, angels on His head and his feet who will watch His
coming and will take Him to His rest.
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