I enter a church by the canals of Milan –
the church of Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Naviglio.
It’s Easter Saturday
and the empty tabernacle gapes at me
from the altar.
I have seen this many times before,
a stark reminder
that Jesus has died.

From the church entrance
I can see that something has been placed
before the altar.
As I approach
I can see that it’s the crucified Christ.

The crucified Christ
has been laid out,
at rest,
still on his cross,
at the foot of the altar
as if in preparation for his funeral.

I feel as if I have walked into a wake.

Blood drips from the nailed hands of Jesus
running down his arms.
The knees of Jesus are bloodied too.
This is a very stark reminder
of Jesus’s death,
a shocking depiction of the sacrifice
that Jesus made for me.

I find this difficult and challenging
but also necessary –
only when I have experienced
the sorrow of the crucified Christ
can I then move on to experience
the joy of the resurrection.

© Claire Murray, 15th April 2017