In 2004 I was involved in a series of Lenten reflections with inner city churches in Napier. that year we focused on the sayings of Jesus on the cross and I wrote the following soliloquy of two people, as a reflection on 'Jesus words to Mary and the beloved disciple from John's Gospel. I though I'd just share in with you... It's not that seasonal but as I re-read it I realised that in the midst of our sorrow and grief one of the comforts that Jesus has given us is each other as the body of Christ. He calls us to know we have people to care for us and also to care for each other... in this we find words of comfort and help in Christ.
Mary
Nothing compares with this pain,
This grief, This sorrow
Enduring the cruel death of a son
This O so special one
This light of the word
Not the pain of childbirth
Forgotten in the joy of a babies cry
the grip of a small hand
the first suckle
Not the pain of having to flee
To be a refugee in Egypt
With the wail of other women crying for lost sons in your ear
Nor the loss of a husband, although that came near
Or the doubts about Jesus as he said and did all those radical things
Yet he is the messiah the one promised
That old man Simeon had come closest all those years ago
“ a sword will pierce your heart”
“A sword will pierce your heart”
This was God’s plan all along
In those words God prepared me for this pain, this sorrow...
This death
It is part of God’s plan
I grieve but I believe
A widow who will now care for a widow
Without husband and eldest son
No welfare state, children are our pension
Our widows benefit, our health insurance
There is other family but none here
And Jesus a good son,
Who honoured mother and father?
What can be done?
Woman of faith yet bereft and alone
Counted blessed amongst women
Yet in need of care
A woman of faith with so much to share
“yet a sword has pierced her heart”
What words can comfort
What help in Christ?
The disciple that Jesus loved
You had said this would happen
You told us and told us
Yet as we marched into this city
It seemed as if all was well
They cheered you, hailed you king
It was quite a scene
Then they turned on you
Political expediency
Better that one man die rather than bloody rebellion
The sign says it well ‘King of the Jews’
Even the others have vanished
They had been with us these three years
They could not come
They are Hiding, disillusioned and afraid
But I could not, I love you so
We’d talked and laughed and I’d watch you cry
You had spoken and our hearts became alive
Even though we struggled to understand it all
That last meal I lay with my head on your shoulder
More than disciple and teacher, as you said we are friends
You’d said this would happen
And in the midst of my tears and my grief I hope
I hope in a God who is stronger than death
Yet I feel lost and bereft
In you I had found a mentor, a Rabbi
Someone I would follow anywhere
When you’d started saying the hard things about your death
People had left us in droves
Yet when you’d turned to us and asked if we’d go
We said where can we go, you have the words of eternal life
I am with you here as well and cannot abandon you
Where would I go you have the words of eternal life?
Where will I find someone with the wisdom to help me live for you?
What can I do for you my beloved friend?
If just a simple thing to ease your pain?
I feel so alone?
Are there any words of comfort?
What help in Christ?
Jesus words from the cross
“Woman, here is your son”
“Here is your mother”
No comments:
Post a Comment