Dear Friends,
As we enter this special season, I am sending this
poem/reflection that I wrote quite some time ago
but seems to me to be particularly relevant to the
living of these days, when we can feel so
confused, frightened, anxious and despairing.
Perhaps, as you question where hope can be found,
you may find the last three short paragraphs a
helpful prayer to pray during this Holy Week.
Have a blessed Easter.
Ruth
ECCE HOMO
Here is the man
scourged and beaten,
mocked, derided,
purple robe
and crown of thorns.
Alone he stands
before the judgement seat
and waits,
the verdict written
on the aching
heart of God
before the world
began.
No advocate
to plead his cause,
no word of comfort
or of hope.
Only the raucous cries
of those who,
hungering for blood,
cry, ‘Crucify!
Crucify this man!’
Here is the man,
The One whose hands
stretched out to heal,
to touch, to bless,
the One who calmed
the storms of nature
and of troubled minds;
whose words reached
deep into their
fearful, tortured hearts
and brought new life
and hope.
Here is the man
who broke the bread
for multitudes,
and to one single
human soul
spoke words of pardon,
‘Neither do I condemn you.
Go in peace!’
Here is the man,
condemned and sentenced
by fanatical religion
and by secular power,
self-centred and
self-seeking,
that down through
centuries
still drag
a God of love,
of mercy and of peace
before the judgement seat
of a world
gone crazy,
hungering for blood.
Yet still he stands
and waits
as the world
he loves and died
to save
still crucifies itself,
still cannot see how hatred
can be turned to love,
despair to hope,
and war to peace.
Is there then
for us
no hope,
no remedy
for fear,
no advocate
to plead
our cause,
no word of
comfort,
no guarantee
of safety
as frantically
we seek to guess
where terror next
will strike?
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Conqueror of death,
Vanquisher of evil,
you take away
the sins of
the world.
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Wounded Healer,
arms still outstretched
in blessing.
You take away
the sins of
the world.
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
majestic in love,
glorious in resurrection,
you take away
the sins of
the world.
Grant us peace
Here is the man!
©Ruth Patterson
.
Restoration Ministries 