POEMS FOR HOLY WEEK AND THE TRIDUUM
PALM SUNDAY
It is Passover time,
A busy time,
people jostling,
riding donkeys.
Near a gate of Jerusalem
A smallish,
almost non-descript
donkey stood tethered.
None seemed to want him
until two men approached.
They looked and then nodded.
He will do nicely.
A fellow nearby shouted,
“What are you doing?”
For our Master’s need
to ride this donkey.
Jesus patted this smallish beast,
Climbed on his back
To the donkey’s delight.
“Where am I going?” he thought?
To his astonishment, shouts
clamoured about his ears
palm branches tickled his side.
Who is on my back?
My feet took my rider
Over cobblestones to the temple
He patted me on my back
A job well done!
Sometime later
A passer-by said, “Look!”
A cross this donkey has
marked clearly on his back.
I had my triumphal hour,
An honour no other had.
Carrying the Saviour of the world
To cleanse his Father’s temple.
SIX DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER
Jesus loved His friends,
in Bethany they lived.
A last visit I must; to
Mary, Martha and Lazarus.
A little while ago
Lazarus had died.
You were in Jerusalem
Only if You had been here!
At last you come!
What good news to Martha’s ears.
Your brother will rise!
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
Now sharing this last meal
Lovingly prepared by Martha.
Mary’s mind as always
Focused on holier concerns.
She loved her Lord dearly
Not bothered with food
She knelt at His feet
Something she had done so often.
(Didn’t her sister scold her so!)
In her hand a bottle of perfume
The best nard possible
Not with a drop or two.
A whole bottle she poured - Lavishly.
Her hands gently and lovingly massaged
perfumed nard into your dusty feet.
Feet that dustier would come
along the via Dolorossa.
Mary’s long-flowing hair
wiped your perfumed feet.
The lavish scent lingered
during the evening meal.
In those hours of torture close by
Mary’s kind caresses lingered
soothing away Your tiredness
with her lavishness and love.
Mary loved you deeply.
Anointing you for burial
With a love only she could give
to farewell her Lord.
HOLY MONDAY - CLEANSING OF TEMPLE
No wonder Ezekiel tells
Shekhinah fleeing the temple,
My house no longer of prayer,
Time to cleanse it thoroughly.
The prophets called for change,
My ways not your ways,
I desire mercy not sacrifice,
And walk humbly with Me.
All fell on deaf ears
on those in the temple,
Money-changers rattling coins,
Animals still being slaughtered.
Enough, enough exclaimed Jesus,
turning over tables and seats,
Away! Away! From this house,
No merchants in the Lord’s house.
The glory of hosts has returned,
To destroy this temple.
As I am lifted up in glory,
I Am the new temple.
HOLY TUESDAY-- QUESTIONS
Returning to His Father’s house,
Having rested in Bethany,
Brooding over the city below
Jesus begins His teaching.
Boldly interrupted by authorities
Priest, scribes and elders, all.
Who gave you authority
To teach in the temple.
One minute pleads Jesus,
Answer my question first.
John the Baptist, his mission
From God or people?
This scoundrel has trapped us
How dare he challenge we
Upholding the Jewish Law.
We ignore his question.
Another tries another trap ,
Over taxes this time.
Should Caesar be paid?
Yes, what is due rightfully.
Not the answer wanted!
How can we trap this impostor?
Ignoring their ignorance,
He warns His listeners,
Beware the teaching in the temple.
How far they truly are
from the kingdom of God.
Follow this widow’s example
giving all to God.
THE BETRAYAL
What makes a friend betray a friend?
Envy? Jealousy? Power?
We can only guess
Why Judas went to the High Priest.
He bargained with them
For thirty pieces of silver,
The price for a slave
To betray His Master
What was he thinking?
When he arranged a time
To deliver Him up
To those who hated Jesus.
The sign was a kiss
Can you betray your Master
With an affectionate sign?
O Judas, how could you!
It was too, too late
To your senses you came.
What have I done?
Betrayed innocent blood.
THE FEET WASHING
You did something remarkable
rising from supper
you discarded your garment.
A jug and bowl you took
and to your waist a towel.
Kneeling, you a servant
washed the disciples feet,
dried them tenderly.
Peter, proud Peter, “No!
No, unless all of me!”
Don’t you still understand?
If I wash you not,
No part you have in me.
A strange stillness lingered in the air
Jesus said, “not all are clean.”
What did He mean?
Hadn’t He washed all of us?
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said,
“Do you know what I have done?”
I, your Master have washed your feet.
This is my example to you and all.
Blessed are the ones who do this.
THE UPPER ROOM
The hour had come
in an upper room
to share the last meal
with those who had followed you.
Knowing dark hours awaited,
not so much for yourself
but for your disciples,
You spoke to them of service.
As you broke bread,
You told them to do this.
To remember Him always,
This is my body.
The blessed cup you shared,
initiating the new covenant
with its promise of the kingdom,
My blood has been shed
TO GIVE LIFE TO ALL.
GETHESEMANE
You had prayed for your disciples
During your last meal with them.
Now it is time to pray
To the Father for guidance
for Yourself.
What is His will?
Is it what You fear?
As you pray
You are in great agony,
As You fear the worse.
An angel comes to Your help
To strengthen You
In Your last combat with Satan.
He did not win in the desert
He will not win here.
You determine, not My will
But my Father’s.
Wherever it leads.
Arise, My disciples
We must be going.
TRIAL
The authorities thirsted for death,
exclaiming Jesus had to go.
Judas with a kiss
gave them that chance.
From the garden they led Jesus
to Pontius Pilate.
"What charge do you bring?"
"Blasphemy," said they.
A king! So you are a king!
A king indeed I am!
Yet not of this world.
My kinship is heavenly.
No power would you have,
Unless given by my Father.
Pilate found you harmless
The authorities thought otherwise.
“Ecco homo! Behold your king!”
“No king have we but Caesar.”
"Crucify him! Crucify him.”
He deserves to die.
GOOD FRIDAY
Who is able to endure Your suffering dear Lord?
Of the nails being driven into your hands and feet
And hoisted high, so high on your cross.
You go to breathe, but there is little air,
The pain is excruciating and penetrates
Every part of Your still panting body.
Despite that intense pain and agony
You know this is Your victory over evil.
You are indeed the King of the Jews.
Your Father’s will has been accomplished
as you lived so you die in obedience.
The sin of man has been expiated.
You die so quickly, no struggle for you.
It is Your life offered to the Father.
In loving service rendered for man.
At dusk, the soldiers pierced your side,
Blood and water flow forth
Signifying life to believers.
O dearest Lord all this you endured
so that we might lovely be
in the new order of creation.
REPOSE
At last all is finished!
A touch of kindness
after the agony of the day.
Your broken and bruised body
taken from the cross.
Loving arms caress you.
Joseph with Nicodemus,
Lovingly and lavishly anoint
the lacerations from scourging.
They wrap your perfumed body
in a clean, linen cloth
and place you gently in the tomb.
THE WOMEN
Watching silently before Sabbath,
are the women of Galilee,
absorbed in their grief.
Could this really have happened?
Is our Master dead
Who raised Lazarus from the tomb?
Sundown, and they must flee
to their homes to observe
the Sabbath in prayer.
The first light streaks across the horizon,
the Sabbath gives way to a new dawn,
But who will roll the stone away?
Laden with spices they returned
to anoint the blessed body of Jesus,
instead an angel in white greets them,
HE IS NOT HERE; HE IS RISEN!
MARY MAGDALENE
Mary why weepest thou so?
Those hot bitter tears
so early in the morning.
I seek my dearest Rabbouni,
Where is his body?
I want so much to anoint.
In her blurred vision
The gardener she perceived,
Tell me where He is?
Mary, Mary, dear Mary,
Rabbouni! You are alive!
O happy the thought.
Her happiness overflowing
she reaches out to touch,
to hold, to embrace once again.
No, no, Mary, you must not,
I have a more important task
you are to be my apostle too.
I want you to tell my disciples
I ascend to my Father and yours,
My God and yours.
“I have seen the Lord!”
Mary blurted to the disciples.
He is not dead but alive! M.D.
