Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted!
Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.
Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
For man's atonement, while he nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.
For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.
Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.
*****************************************************************
...In spite of which we like to think
That we are sound, substantial flesh and blood—
Again, in spite of that, we call this Friday good.
T.S. Eliot, "East Coker"
Comments (4)
Knew that was one of yours, Lydia. Just beautiful.
Happy Easter and God Bless.
Posted by Lauran | April 6, 2012 10:25 AM
Yes, a beautiful poem.
Here's another meditation (by John Donne) for today; Good Friday, 1613, Riding Westward.
Posted by Alex | April 6, 2012 12:38 PM
Thank you, Lauran, and blessings.
Excellent Donne, Alex.
Here is one that begins with yesterday, Maundy Thursday, and continues to Easter:
Posted by Lydia | April 6, 2012 1:10 PM
"Ah, Holy Jesus," by the way, was originally a German hymn from the 1600's.
Posted by Lydia | April 6, 2012 1:13 PM