Easter Thoughts

It's Easter Week already. Hard to believe. Easter tends to come in the part of the year where we're busy, scrambling to accomplish what needs to be done before many upcoming performances and events. It's not a time of year conducive to reflection, to thinking on what we are celebrating. Easter comes and goes, almost without our realizing it. Busy as Christmastime is, it's easier for me to sit and reflect by the Christmas tree at night than it is to go out to my garden, where things are beginning to green up, and think on the meaning of Easter.

This week, I am going to try to remember what is happening--why we're celebrating on Sunday, why we even have Good Friday services, why this holiday (holy day) is so central to our existence as Christians. I'll try to post more often this week, with thoughts on Easter and what it means for us. For today, here is one of my favorite Easter hymns (actually, it's more of a Good Friday hymn). Take the time to truly read them...

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.

Johann Heerman, 1630