A Treasure To Be Shared

Good Friday by John Keble from THE CHRISTIAN YEAR BY THE REV. JOHN KEBLE Transcribed from the 1887 Cassell & Company edition by David Price He is despised and rejected of men. Isaiah liii. 3. Is it not strange, the darkest hour That ever dawned on sinful earth Should touch the heart with softer power For comfort than an angel’s mirth? That to the Cross the mourner’s eye should turn Sooner than where the stars of Christmas burn? Sooner than where the Easter sun Shines glorious on yon open grave, And to and fro the tidings run, “Who died to heal, is risen to save?” Sooner than where upon the Saviour’s friends The very Comforter in light and love descends? Yet so it is: for duly there The bitter herbs of earth are set, Till tempered by the Saviour’s prayer, And with the Saviour’s life-blood wet, They turn to sweetness, and drop holy balm, Soft as imprisoned martyr’s deathbed calm. All turn to sweet—but most of all That bi...

THE CHRISTIAN YEAR BY THE REV. JOHN KEBLE Thursday before Easter Transcribed from the 1887 Cassell & Company edition by David Price As the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Daniel ix. 23. “O Holy mountain of my God, How do thy towers in ruin lie, How art thou riven and strewn abroad, Under the rude and wasteful sky!” ’Twas thus upon his fasting-day The “Man of Loves” was fain to pray, His lattice open toward his darling west, Mourning the ruined home he still must love the best. Oh! for a love like Daniel’s now, To wing to Heaven but one strong prayer For God’s new Israel, sunk as low, Yet flourishing to sight as fair, As Sion in her height of pride, With queens for handmaids at her side, With kings her nursing-fathers, thronèd high, And compassed with the world’s too tempting blazonry. ...

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Today, Holy Saturday, we remain in isolation. We recall Jesus laid to rest in the Tomb. The Holy Sepulchre is closed today, as it was when a great stone was rolled across its entrance to seal the Tomb. passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; A dawn of gold brightly beaming. Clouds rapidly slid their way in; a grey canvas framed the sky. Threads of blue tempt one to hope. The sun returns; it never left. Clouds merely obscured it. Patience. The prison cannot contain the Son. The Virus has enabled a solemn and uneasy quiet for this day, as it did yesterday, Good Friday. Mind you, grocery stores were relatively busy; queues were slow. Conversations - at the required two metres - were quite enjoyable; not trite. Today is Holy Saturday. 624 "By the grace of God" Jesus tasted death "for every one". In his plan of salvation, God ord...

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