Showing posts with label Holy Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Week. Show all posts

Friday, April 3, 2015

The Seven Cries from The Cross

DETAIL, THE PIERCING OF JESUS' HEART, PIETER PAUWEL REUBENS
1. Luke 23:34 - "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

2. Luke 23:43 - "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."

3. John 19:26-27 - (to his mother) "Woman, behold thy son!" and to the disciple "Behold thy mother!"

4. Matthew 27:46-47 and Mark 15: 34-36 - "Ηλί Ηλί λιμά σαβαχθανί" (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)

5. John 19:28 - "I thirst"

6. John 19:30 - "Τετέλεσται" (Paid in Full).

7. Luke 23:46 - "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit"

 NOTE: In referencing #6, this is translated as "It is finished" in English, but the correct phrase has a reference in Colossians 2:14, Paul's letter to the eponymous group that the Mosaic Law put us in debt to God with sin, and is the debt Christ cancelled once nailed to the cross. As theologians note, Christ made full payment.

The Crucifixion

DETAIL, THE WAY OF THE CROSS, GIOVANNI BATISTA
As we journey our way to the Crucifixion, it would be appropriate that on the days of the Crucifixion that we read Luke 23 to discuss what happened on the Crucifixion.

As we journey our way to the Crucifixion, it would be appropriate that on the days of the Crucifixion that we read Luke 23 to discuss what happened on the Crucifixion.

23 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Maundy Thursday reflections

I've heard Tina Stallard (a college professor at my alma mater) do it at a Maundy Thursday service.  But Bach's masterpiece is appropriate for Maundy Thursday.  The words themselves are all you need to reflect.  I cannot comment further.  Let's let the beautiful "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," a cappella (in this video, it was practice and only two verses;  it was from a Liberty University Chamber Singers practice).


O sacred Head, sore wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Holy Week - Laßt uns erfreuen herzlich sehr

We often hear the beautiful church organ play a tune listed in our hymnals as "Laßt uns erfreuen" all throughout the year with various hymns and sacred songs, which we learned is sourced from 1623's Ausserlesene, Catholische, Geistliche Kirchengesange, published in Köln in 1623.  And this is the original German tune, not the Ralph Vaughan Williams setting that what we know in our churches today and is easily identified by the location of the Alleluias.  The original song was an Easter tune, no less, "Laßt uns erfreuen herzlich sehr".  And it's a different arrangement than what we've heard in our lives for this Easter tune:

Laßt uns erfreuen herzlich sehr, Alleluia
Maria seufzt und weint nicht mehr, Alleluia
Verschwunden alle Übel sein, Alleluia
Jetzt glänzt der helle Sonnenschein, Alleluia
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Sag an, o freudenreiches Herz,Alleluia
Wo ist denn jetz, Ach, Weh und Schmerz? Alleluia
Glorreich vom Grab erstanden ist, Alleluia
Der Menschen Trost, Herr Jesu Christ. Alleluia
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

O freudenreiche Osterzeit, Alleluia
Wo sich ein jeder Christ erfreut, Alleluia
Stimmt an den fröhlichen Jubelton, Alleluia
Singt alle, wer nur singen kann: Alleluia
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

NOTE:  This translator doesn't do justice to the song metrically!

Let us rejoice heartily very, Alleluia
Mary sighs and weeps not, Alleluia
Be gone all evil, Alleluia
Now shines the bright sunshine, Alleluia
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Tell me, oh joy rich heart, Alleluia
Where is that book now, Oh, woe and pain? Alleluia
Is gloriously risen from the grave, Alleluia
The human consolation, Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O Joyful Eastertide, Alleluia
Where every Christian delighted Alleluia
True to the cheerful Jubelton, Alleluia
Sing all, who can only sing: Alleluia
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Holy Week – Ride On

Henry Hart's 1820 sacred selection for Palm Sunday, "Ride on, ride on, in majesty":

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry.
0 Savior meek, pursue Thy road,
With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
0 Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
The angel armies of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching Sacrifice.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on His sapphire throne
Expects His own anointed Son.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain.
Then take, 0 Christ, Thy power and reign.


Monday, March 30, 2015

Holy Week reflections

Whew!  Very tired from the Cooper River Bridge Run XXXVIII, naturally, though it was disappointing after I started off too fast!  Love the 10km run.

But it's Holy Week.  And many of us are tired of bad church music that is everywhere, especially Haugen-Haas or Universal.

This was a song that I have in my Sacred Songs songbook that Serena LaRoche and I had during our time working together.  Being that Palm Sunday is first, we have to find that old standby, Jean-Baptiste Fauré's "Les Rameaux" (The Palms), for this meditation of Holy Week.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Holy Week

Yes, you can blame Dr. LaRoche for feeding me a diet of classical sacred works. But when you're being fed the best works from her, you're being fed a cornucopia of the greatest vegetables, fresh from the farm, and nothing processed.

For Holy Week, Carl Heinrich Graun's "Ein Gebeth um neue Stärke" from Der Tod Jesu is found here. (And yes, an English version is being performed at Dr. LaRoche's church.)

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