Monday, March 16, 2016: Station 14: 

Jesus’ disciples place his body in the tomb.

Scripture: John 19:38-40

After this Joseph of Arimathe´a, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. Nicode´mus also, who had at first come to him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds’ weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of that time.

Prayer:

Jesus, your mother and followers watched as your body was placed in the tomb, not knowing that you would rise again. Be with our immigrant brothers and sisters as they seek hope even when their worlds crumble and they face unimaginable suffering. You are our hope in the darkness of the tomb.

Reflection:

For the moment, all hope appears to be lost. But God’s greatest moment, the Resurrection, is about to begin. Reflect on your life.  They say that the darkest hour is right before the dawn, and it is in these darkest hours that the Spirit is often preparing to do her greatest work. Spirit, unleash the power of your suffering, death, and resurrection. And resurrect the area of my life that needs it most.

Story: 

Mary is an 83‑year‑old Catholic woman from Sudan. A government official attempted to force her granddaughter to convert to Islam and marry him, and when the family refused, her son was kidnapped and tortured. Years earlier, another official tried to pressure Mary’s daughter to abandon Christianity.

She continued to practice her faith quietly in Mary’s home, even under the threat of being reported for blasphemy, a crime punishable by death in Sudan. Mary lost her home, her community, and nearly all her support system, leaving her far from the life she had known. She has waited since 2016 for a decision on her asylum application and has traveled long distances for two interviews, each more than eight hours from her home. 

At the end of her most recent interview in December 2025, she looked at the asylum officer and said, “May God bless you, and guide you, and be with you always.” Now, with a nationwide and indefinite pause on the adjudication of affirmative asylum claims, her case continues to linger without resolution. Even in exile and uncertainty, Mary’s faith endures. Her story is a quiet reminder that hope can live even in the darkest moments, much like the promise of life beyond the tomb.

- Mary is the pro bono client of a CLINIC attorney