Poems before Easter

Once upon a time, a child was born. He was fair and beautiful, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He came so secretly, born in a stable, in the most humble circumstances. No one knew who He was, what he came for. His little Mother knew. His Father in heaven knew. For us, they gave the Son, our Holy One, our Redeemer.

Our Jesus.

THE SAVIOUR CHILD:

A Haiku

He was born to die.
He died - to ransom a world.
How can we repay?

Christ Child

In secret he grew, and became a man. For three years he preached and worked miracles. Then, on a Sunday, he rode into Jerusalem upon the back of the donkey, amid Hosannas from the people, and cries of praise. Four days later, the love of the people had turned to hate. They turned on Him, delivered Him up to His death. For this, He had come into the world. For this, He had been born. Because He loved much.

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE

A Shadorma

"No! Not Him!
Give us Barrabas!"
The crowd roars,
hate-blinded,
and the Innocent Lover
is condemned to death.

Release Barrabas!

Oh sorrowful moment, when God Himself is rejected, and a murderer is chosen in His stead. Now waits the cross, the death, and our salvation. Now, God goes to die.

LIFE TO DEATH

A Diamante

Tree
Sprouting, growing.
Majestic, lordly, beautiful.
Roots, forest, woodsmen, axe.
Hewn, destroyed, remade.
Dying, waiting - 
Cross

Hail, Holy Cross!

Arms outspread, encompassing the world in his embrace, Christ our God and mightiest Hero hangs upon the cross, suffering much that we might be with Him one day. His blood, precious bounty of redemption, pearls upon his body like rubies. Only more precious. Each drop more ransom than any jewel could ever be.

ONLY ONE SACRIFICE

A Villanelle

He came to save, He came to die -
His Sacrifice encompassed all
beneath the shadows of the sky.

Men mock and jeer with jaundiced eye -
their bitter hearts do not recall
He came to save, He came to die.

"Behold Thy Son." Who will reply?
His blood, as drops of payment fall,
beneath the shadows of the sky.

The Magdalen is standing nigh -
His Mother gazes, strong and small.
He came to save, He came to die.

In pain he hangs - the wind keens by,
they offer vinegar and gall.
beneath the shadows of the sky.

At last it comes! He gives a cry!
His blood is spent - He's given all.
He came to save, He came to die,
beneath the shadows of the sky.

It is consummated.

The death has been suffered. All He lived for has been accomplished. The resignation of Holy Thursday, the suffering of Good Friday, the sorrow and loss of Holy Saturday has been fulfilled. At the end, the rising sun, the dawning of resurrection. The accomplishment. Our salvation, wrought in Creator's hands, bought by the blood shed by that same sacrificing Creator.

There can be no glory without the cross, no joy without the sorrow, no gain without suffering. There can be no life...

Without God.

EASTER

A Diamante

Thursday,
preparatory, penitential,
Sacrificing, depriving, mortifying.
Days, hours, minutes, moments.
Dawning, conquering, resurrecting.
Glory, Triumph,
Easter.

He is risen, as He said.

God bless!

Cat