Holy Week - yesterday and today......

Its been sometime since I've written - almost a whole month but I was in a winter funk what with all the lousy weather we've been having but spring has sprung and though I'm still not in full spring mode as it is still cold but at least sunny, I am looking forward to spending the upcoming week with my sweet granddaughter Laura and having my whole little family with me on Easter Sunday.

And keeping in the spirit of Holy Week, I am herewith posting a poem I wrote in high school (either in my freshman or sophomore year) which I want to share with you.  It was submitted by either Miss Juco or Miss Ocampo or even Sr. Mary Angela (my Paulinian classmates know of whom I speak) to the Manila Bulletin and it was published during Holy Week then.  Now, over 40 years later, I think I should post something fitting for this solemn week before Easter. 

The Vigil


A woman stands beside the cross
Her beautiful serene eyes are glistening with tears
Her rose-tinted skin is now almost transparently white with grief
Her glorious mass of shining chestnut hair
Has tumbled over her shoulders
Now shaking with her silent weeping.


She raises her head toward the figure hanging on the cross
And as she looks at Him, a dagger pierces her soul
The Man hanging on the Cross is her only son
She is filled with anguish, pain and sorrow
But, helpless to do anything for Him.

There is a woman beside her sharing her sorrow
A woman called Mary of Magdala.

A group of soldiers are gambling for His seamless robe
Which she made for Him, so long ago.


The sky has suddenly become dark.
Lightning and thunder break through the unearthly stillness
With an angry force
And the woman hears a voice she knows to be her son’s murmur….
“Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”
And a soldier exclaims in terror and wonder…..
“Truly, this is the Son of God.”


A soft drizzle begins to fall
As two men take the Savior off the cross
And they lay Him in His mother’s arms.
There is still great sorrow and pain in her heart
But, she is also happy.
That He is rid of His suffering and agony.


His hands still bear
The marks where the nails had been cruelly driven into
Those divine hands
Which had caressed her cheek as a babe,
Had helped His father at work
Had healed the sick, the blind and the lame
And had changed bread and wine
Into His own Body and Blood.

The people had demanded the death
Of her Divine Son
This innocent Man
Lying in her arms now
Who had come down to earth
To save man from his sins
Their God and Creator
Who had brought the message of…
Love your neighbor as yourselves.

She thinks about this as she lays Him in the tomb
And she weeps again
But this time, for those who have denied Him
Hoping they will find Him again.


And as she walks down the path, away from the tomb,
We see a Queen, a Mother, a Saint, an Angel

And her name is MARY.

 
Have a Happy and Blessed Easter, all!!