Easter Anthology (4 dari 5)

sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/04/easter-anthology-3-dari-5.html

The Last Supper

Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put Him to death; for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the Twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and engaged to give him money. So he agreed, and sought an opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat it." They said to Him, "Where will you have us prepare it?" He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters, and tell the householder, 'The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." And they went, and found it as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the Apostles with Him. And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes." And He took bread, and when He had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood...." (Luke 22:1-20)

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Jesus Washed His Disciples Feet

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And during supper, when the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and girded Himself with a towel. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you."
For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, "You are not all clean." 12 When he had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and resumed His place, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them...." (John 13:1-17)

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On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. In the solemn ceremonies of Good Friday, in the Adoration of the Cross, in the chanting of the 'Reproaches' (Popule Meus), in the reading of the Passion, and in receiving the pre-consecrated Host, we unite ourselves to our Savior, & contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.
The Church- stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare, & with the door of the empty Tabernacle standing open- is as if in mourning. The liturgical observance of this day of Christ's suffering, Crucifixion and death evidently has been in existence from the earliest days of the Church. No Mass is celebrated on this day, but the service of Good Friday is called the Mass of the Presanctified because Communion (in the species of bread), which had already been consecrated on Maundy Thursday, is given to the people .
Traditionally, the organ is silent from Maundy Thursday until the Hallelujah at the Easter Vigil, as are all bells or other instruments, the only music during this period being unaccompanied chant.

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The Passion of the Christ According to St John

Having spoken these words, Jesus went forth with His disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall Him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. When He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again He asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so, if you seek Me, let these men go." This was to fulfil the word which He had spoken, "Of those whom thou gavest Me I lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given Me?" So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound Him.
First they led him to Annas; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he entered the court of the high priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door, and brought Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this Man's disciples?" He said, "I am not." Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me, what I said to them; they know what I said." When He had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how You answer the high priest?" Jesus answered Him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike Me?" Annas then sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "Are not you also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it; and at once the cock crowed.
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" They answered him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have handed him over." Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." This was to fulfil the word which Jesus had spoken to show by what death He was to die. Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed You over to me; what have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if My kingship were of this world, My servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but My kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told them, "I find no crime in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. (John 18:1-40)

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The Passion of the Christ According to St John

Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and arrayed Him in a purple robe; they came up to Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck Him with their hands. Pilate went out again, and said to them, "See, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no crime in Him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no crime in Him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die, because He has made Himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to Him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release You, and power to crucify You?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over Me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." Upon this Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this Man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place
called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.
Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This Man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took His garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also His tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfil the scripture, "They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did this. Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing near, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, "It is finished"; and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with Him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced hiH side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness- his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth- that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of Him shall be broken." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they have pierced."
After this Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who had at first come to Him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight. They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:1-42)

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The familiar hot cross buns are sweet rolls with the sign of the cross cut into it, and they are 1 of several traditional European breads marked with a cross for Good Friday. According to tradition, these buns originated at St Alban's Abbey in 1361, where the monks gave them to the poor people who came there (you may have your own recipe for sweet-rolls to which you can add currants or raisins before shaping & cut a cross in the top before baking; or you can buy them.) These Good Friday buns were very popular, and were sold by vendors who cried:

"Hot cross buns, hot cross buns! 1 a-penny 2 a-penny, hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters, give 'em to your sons!
1 a-penny 2 a-penny, hot cross buns!

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Were You There?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Negro spiritual

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From the early days of the Church, the Easter Vigil was the primary means by which Easter was observed. This practice has evolved in modern observance into the Easter sunrise service that many Churches observe, but its history is much richer.
From the earliest days of the church, the Easter Vigil was primarily a means of preparing new converts for baptism into the Christian faith, which was normally done on Easter Sunday as the focal point of the entire year.
The Vigil itself can begin at any time after sundown on Saturday.
In Church traditions, the Easter Vigil begins in darkness as a flame is lit. This can either be the Christ candle returned to the sanctuary or to the worshippers, or a 'new fire' lit amid the darkness. From this 'new fire' all the other candles in the sanctuary are lit. Some Churches use a special Paschal candle as the focal point for this part of the service. All the worshippers light individual candles from the Paschal candle as they sing a song of praise. This return of light symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus from the grave and the light of salvation & hope God brought into the world through the resurrection, the triumph of the light of God’s grace & salvation over the darkness of death & sin.
In the early Church, the Easter Vigil concluded with the baptism of new converts, celebrating not only Christ’s resurrection from death to life, but also the new life that God has brought through the death & resurrection of Christ to individual believers. Those baptized changed into new white clothes to symbolize their new life in Christ, which is the origin of the tradition of buying new clothes at Easter.
An ancient tradition from the early centuries of the Church intensifies the fasting of Lent, so that no food of any kind is eaten on Saturday, or for 40 hours before sunrise on Easter Sunday. The breaking of the fast is the Eucharist or Communion that is celebrated at Easter sunrise at the end of the Easter Vigil.

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The Resurrection

And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled back from the sepulchre. And going in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were astonished in their mind at this, behold, two men stood by them, in shining apparel. And as they were afraid and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them, "Why seek you the living with the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how He spoke unto you, when He was yet in Galilee, saying: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise again'!" And they remembered His words. And going back from the sepulchre, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. And it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women that were with them, who told these things to the Apostles. And these words seemed to them as idle tales: and they did not believe them. But Peter rising up, ran to the sepulchre and, stooping down, he saw the linen cloths laid by themselves: and went away wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. (Luke 24:1-12)

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"An Easter Hymn"

Awake, thou wintry earth-
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
Christ is risen.

By Thomas Blackburn (????).

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"Jesus Risen"

Ye Heavens, how sang they in your courts,
How sang the angelic choir that day,
When from His tomb the imprisoned God,
Like the strong sunrise, broke away?

By Rev. Frederick William Faber (1814-1863).

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"Come, Ye Saints, Look Here and Wonder"

Come, ye saints, look here & wonder,
See the place where Jesus lay;
He has burst His bands asunder;
He has borne our sins away;
Joyful tidings,
Yes, the Lord has risen to-day.

By Thomas Kelly (1769-1855).

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During the Easter season the Angelus prayer is replaced by Regina Caeli.
Since the 13th century this prayer has been used as a seasonal antiphon of joy in honor of Mother Mary who rejoiced over her Son's rising from the dead in glory.

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Regina Caeli

Regina caeli, laetare, hallelujah:
quia quem meruisti portare, hallelujah.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, hallelujah.
Ora pro nobis Deum, hallelujah.

Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, hallelujah.
Quia surrexit Dominus vere, hallelujah.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, hallelujah.
The Son you merited to bear, hallelujah,
has risen as he said, hallelujah.
Pray to God for us, hallelujah.

Rejoice and be glad, o Virgin Mary, hallelujah.
For the Lord has truly risen, hallelujah.

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"Pengorbanan Seorang Anak"

Ashborne adalah sebuah dusun yang sederhana dan agak sepi di Irlandia. Di sana-sini tampaklah beberapa pondok dengan atap ilalang. Bahkan gedung gerejapun tidak ada di desa itu. Gereja terdekat kira-kira tiga kilometer jauhnya dari dusun itu, yaitu gereja di Clifford. Itu berartihampir satu jam perjalanan dgn berjalan kali.
Di sebuah pondok yang agak terpencil di dusun itu, tinggallah satu keluarga sederhana yang terdiri dari tiga orang, yaitu Tom Laingan, Mary, dan Willy, putra tunggal mereka.
Willy adalah seorang anak yang cerdas dan lembut hati serta suka menolong, tetapi sungguh malang badannya lemah dan sakit-sakitan. Memang sejak kecil kesehatannya rapuh. Hanya berkat perawatan telaten dan penuh kasing sayang dari kedua orangtuanya saja yang menjadikan Willy tumbuh menjadi seorang anak yang lemah lembut. Dia akan genap berusia sepuluh tahun bulan depan.
Meskipun lemah tubuhnya, Willy selalu penuh semangat. Senja itu dia sedang menghadapi buku pelajarannya seperti biasanya, namun rupanya ada yanag sedang dicemaskannya. Tiba-tiba dia menghampiri ibunya yang sedang menjahit.
"Ibu bolehkah aku ikut ke gereja bersama teman-teman besok?" tanyanya.
Dengan penuh kasih sayang, Mary memebelai pipi putra tunggalnya sambil berkata, "Bukankah kau baru ke gereja bulan lalu? Kau baru saja sembuh dari sakit. Hawa yang dingin dan perjalanan jauh akan berakibat kurang baik bagi tubuhmu yang masih lemah. Lagipula bukankah Dokter melarangmu keluar rumah?"
"Tetapi besok adalah hari Natal dan Pastor John berkata bahwa hari Natal adalah hari yang suci memperingati kelahiran Tuhan Jesus. Boleh ya, Bu? Aku tak akan sakit, dan aku merasa cukup kuat. Boleh ya, Bu?"
"Tapi...."
"Sudahlah Bu, jangan melarangnya lagi!" sela ayah Willy. "Dia cukup besar untuk mengikuti misa Natal di gereja."
"Baiklah kalau memang Ayah mengizinkan. Tetapi sekarang ini kau harus banyak beristirahat agar besok tak terlalu capek dalam perjalanan."
Alangkah gembiranya hati Willy. Sambil bernyanyi-nyanyi kecil dia mencuci kaki, kemudian setelah mencium kedua orang tuanya, dia masuk ke kamarnya untuk tidur.
Membayangkan kepergianna ke gereja besok membutanya sukar tidur malam itu. Besok pagi di gereja dia akan berdoa meminta Jesus dalam palungan agar ibunya mau ke gereja lagi. Memang sudah lama Mary tidak lagi memperdulikan imannya. Willy cilik yang mengetahui hal itu menjadi bersedih hati. Tak putus-putusnya dia berdoa agar ibunya mau kembali kepada Tuhan. Tetapi rupanya Tuhan belum menjawab doanya. Meskipun begitu tak pernah dia berhenti berdoa bagi ibunya. Dia teringat kata-kata Pastor John bahwa doa tulus seorang anak dapat menembus langit dan sampai ke surga.
Pukul lima pagi keesokan harinya Willy sudah sibuk mempersiapkan diri. Sejam kemudian dia sudah berada dalam gereja.
Dengan penuh hormat dia berlutut di depan palungan dan berdoa bagi ibunya terkasih. Wajah patung Kanak-kanak Jesus yang dikelilingi kedua orang tuanya dan para gembala tampak penuh kasih. Willy memejamkan matanya dan mengucapkan doanya
Ketika dibukanya lagi matanya, dia merasakan hawa dingin yang menusuk tulang dan menyadari hanya dia seorang yang masih berada dalam gereja yang kini kosong. Pengunjung telah kembali ke rumah mereka masing-masing karena misa telah selesai.
Dengan berat hati ditinggalkannya gereja itu, namun penuh keyakinan bahwa doanya akan segera dijawab Tuhan.
Dia berjalan kali karena tidak ada lagi kereta yang membawanya pulang. Hawa dingin membuatnya menggigil. Dirapatkannya mantelnya. Badannya terasa berat dan kurang enak. Dengan terhuyung-huyung dia tetap melangkahkan sepasang kakinya. Betapa inginnya dia segera kembali ke rumah, di depan perapian yang hangat. Dan begitu sampai di depan rumah dia jatuh pingsan....
Beberapa bulan telah berlalu. Natal telah lama lewat. Willy terbaring di tempat tidurnya. Wajahnya pucat dan badanya kurus. Penderitaan terbayang di wajahnya, meskipun begitu sinar matanya tetap jernih.
"Bu, maukah Ibu membelikan aku anggur untuk kupersembahkan bagi Kanak-kanak Jesus dalam palungan-Nya?" ujar Willy tiba-tiba.
"Baiklah, Nak. Tetapi Natal telah lama berlalu, palungan Natal sudah disimpan sampai Natal berikutnya. Natal yang akan datang pasti Ibu membelikanmu anggur untuk Kanak-kanak Jesus."
"Tetapi Jesus memintanya sekarang, Bu! Biarlah aku sendiri yang mempersembahkannya padanya. Dan bila Ibu tak keberatan, tolonglah rawa altar kecilku jika aku pergi...."
Mary mengerti bahwa Willy akan segera meninggalkannya. Pastor John diundang datang.
"Berlalulah dengan damai Anakku. Persembahkanlah sendiri anggurmu pada Kanak-kanak Jesus di surga di mana kau akan melihat sendiri Dia yang sebenarnya dan berbahagia karenanya," demikian kata Pastor John sambil memberikan sakramen dan berkatnya yang terakhir.
Meskipun dengan berat hati ditatapnya wajah ayah dan ibunya yang telah sangat mengasihinya bergantian dengan wajah tenang. Lalu dengan suara lemah dia berkata, "Nyalakan lilin untukku di gereja ya, Bu! Persembahkan bunga yang biasa kupersembahkan pada Jesus setiap Minggu dan berdoalah di sana!"
"Ya, Ibu berjanji Anakku," Mary menahan air matanya saat melepaskan kepergian putra tunggalnya.
"Dan aku pun berjanji akan berdoa bagi Ibu," kata Willy sambil menutup matanya dan tersenyum. Suatu senyum kebahagiaan karena percaya doanya kini sudah terjawab....
Tibalah hari Paskah. Terlihatlah di Minggu Paskah itu Tuan Laingan dan istrinya keluar dari gereja di Clifford. Tak lama kemudian kedua suami-istri itu terlihat sedang berlutut di sebuah makam kecil di halaman gereja. Itulah kuburan Willy cilik. Tempat peristirahatannya sementara.
Doa Willy sudah terjawab. Jesus kini sudah bersemayam lagi dalam hati ibunya. Doa seorang anak yang tulus terkabul meskipun meminta pengorbanan dirinya sendiri.
Dan Willy akan terus berdoa bagi kedua orang tunya. Berdoa dan terus berdoa sampai suatu saat nanti mereka berkumpul kembali di surga.

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berikutnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2005/05/easter-anthology-5-dari-5-habis.html

Easter Anthology (3 dari 5)

halaman sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2003/05/easter-anthology-2-dari-5.html

"Angelique Part 10"

Tiba-tiba Angelique teringat sesuatu. Salib yang dipasang di atas makamnya. Ya, salib itu! Simbol kemenangan iman Kristen atas dosa, kejahatan, dan maut. Bila Pangeran Christophe berada di dekat salib tersebut, kekuatan jahat Ratu Myrthe tentu tidak berpengaruh padanya.
"Kuatkan dirimu, Louis! Aku akan membimbingmu dekat salib di atas makamku, kau akan aman di dekatnya," bisik Angelique seraya membangunkan kekasihnya.
Pangeran Christophe berusaha bangkit. Tetapi begitu dia berdiri kembali di atas kedua kakinya, kekuatan mantera Ratu Myrthe membuatnya menari-nari lagi sampai jatuh kepayahan. Begitulah yang berulang kali terjadi. Namun setiap kali roh Angelique menyongsongnya dan memberinya kekuatan untuk bangkit.
Ketika fajar hampir merekah- kerlip bintang-bintang mulai menghilang di balik cakrawala- dan korbannya masih bertahan hidup, Ratu Myrthe menjadi bertambah gusar. Dia mengayunkan kembali rantingnya dan membuat kedua pasangan tersebut menari lebih cepat.
Pangeran Christophe ambruk ke atas tanah. Dengan nafas tersenggal-senggal dia berkata, "Angelique, jangan kaususahkan lagi dirimu dengan melindungi aku! Biarkan aku mati sehingga dapat bersamamu selamanya! Tiada gunanya lagi aku hidup tanpa dirimu!"
"Tidak, kau harus tetap hidup, Louis! Kau tidak boleh mati dalam keadaan tanpa rahmat* di hutan terpencil ini. Aku tidak dapat membiarkan dirimu menyia-nyiakan kebahagiaan abadi dan keselamatan kekalmu, sekalipun demi cintamu padaku."
Dan cinta Angelique terbukti lebih kuat daripada kebencian para wili ketika akhirnya dia berhasil membimbing kekasihnya tersebut ke dekat salib di atas makamnya, dan kekuatan jahat Ratu Myrthe atas diri Pangeran Christophe sirna seketika.
Bersamaan dengan itu di ufuk timur sebersit kecil cahaya fajar mulai menyingsing, mengumumkan kepada bumi bahwa sesaat lagi hari menjelang. Mula-mula redup namun makin lama makin terang. Sayup-sayup terdengar gema lonceng gereja mengalun di udara memanggil umat untuk bersama mengawali hari yang baru dengan bermadah memuliakan nama-Nya. Embun yang sebening kristal bertetesan jatuh ke atas rerumputan yang selembut beludru. Burung-burung penyanyi ramai berkicauan di dahan-dahan mengusir bayangan maut dan kegelapan malam.
Para wili yang tidak dapat terus tinggal mulai menghilang satu demi satu sampai akhirnya ratu mereka juga lenyap dari pandangan, kembali ke dunia roh.
Karena cintanya yang sedemikian besar telah mengatasi kematian, roh Angelique terbebas dari kekuatan Ratu Myrthe. Dia tidak perlu menjadi wili lagi. Jiwanya dapat beristirahat dengan tenang. Sebelum kembali ke kuburnya dia memberi kecupan selamat tinggal pada dahi kekasihnya yang bersandar pada salib di atas makamnya.
"Angelique," Pangeran Christophe berbisik lemah.
"Selamat tinggal, Louis! Cintailah dan berbahagialah bersama Countess Mathilde, hanya sediakan tempat selalu di hatimu bagi kenangan akan Angelique yang pernah kaucintai!" Angelique mengucapkan selamat berpisah kepada sang pangeran
"Ah! Kau masih memanggilku Louis," desah Pangeran Christophe. Ada rasa nyeri dalam dadanya saat harus berpisah lagi dengan kekasihnya yang sekarang begitu dekat, hanya sejauh rengkuhan tangan.
"Kau adalah tetap Louis bagiku...selamanya!" ujarnya sambil tersenyum tulus sebelum bayangannya berlalu bersama hembusan angin pagi meninggalkan kekasihnya seorang diri.
Pangeran Christophe termangu. Dia menyadari tidak berulang kali dalam hidup ini seseorang diberi kesempatan mengalami cinta sejati, dan dia tahu bahwa dia telah mengalaminya.
Matahari telah terbit ketika dari kejauhan terdengar suara derap kuda mendekat. Countess Mathilde datang bersama Wilfred. Mereka menghampiri Pangeran Christophe yang sedang berlutut dan menyandarkan kepalanya pada salib di atas makam Angelique. Wilfred menyampirkan jubah yang dibawanya pada pundak sang pangeran sementara Countess Mathilde membantu tunangannya tersebut bangkit. Bersama mereka membawa sang pangeran berlalu dari tempat itu, tempat yang menyimpan segala kenangannya, manis maupun pahit, tempat yang pernah menjadi saksi bisu bahwa cinta telah mengalahkan kebencian.

Epilogue
Setelah mengalami sendiri kuasa iman, Pangeran Christophe menjadi ksatria yang dengan gagah berani membela dan mempertahankannya dari segala bahaya yang mencoba melenyapkannya sampai pada hari dia jatuh dalam suatu pertempuran setelah mengenyahkan musuh-musuhnya.
Saat tubuhnya ditemukan seulas senyum damai tampak terbayang di wajahnya. Kesaksian dari seorang prajurit yang bertempur di dekatnya mengatakan bahwa dia mendengar Pangeran Christophe berkata sesaat sebelum terjatuh dari kudanya, ‘Aku datang, songsonglah diriku!’ The End

*)Pada zaman dahulu seseorang yang meninggal tanpa sempat menerima sakramen-sakramen terakhir dianggap meninggal dalam keadaan tanpa rahmat sehingga jiwanya akan celaka.

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Paskah di KFC

Bagaimana akan makan ayam goreng ini
Kalau tiba-tiba aku melihat bayi
Menangis di gendongan- karena lapar
Dan perempuan kurus mengorek sisa roti
Di tong sampah di muka restoran?
Coca cola terasa kesat di tenggorokan
Ketika teringat kepada muka-muka ceking
dirubung lalat hijau di gurun pasir.
Kapan akan berakhir musim kemarau
Di sebelah selatan? Makhluk terkapar!
Mari, potong-potonglah tubuhku
dan nikmati dagingku- roti yang paling putih
dan darahku- anggur yang paling murni
sanpai tinggal hanya tulang belulangku lunglai
terkulai di dahan.
Eli, Eli, lama sabakhtani- Allahku, ya, Allahku,
mengapa kami Kautelantarkan?

Subagio Sastrowardoyo (????)

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Little Lamb Who Made Thee?

Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life & bid thee feed
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice:
Little Lamb who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee:
He is called by thy name,
For He calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & He is mild,
He became a little Child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by His name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.

By William Blake (1794)

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Pesta Santacruz di Filipina

Namaku Giuseppe, tetapi semua org memanggilku Peppe, usiaku 12 tahun, aku dari Filipina di Asia Tenggara.
Beberapa minggu setelah Minggu Paskah, kami merayakan pesta Santacruz. Seperti halnya Paskah, tidak ada tanggal yang pasti untuk perayaan ini, perayaan ini dapat jatuh pada awal sampai akhir bulan Mei tetapi masih dalam Masa Paskah dalam liturgi Gereja Katolik.
Pada pesta ini kami bersyukur kepada Tuhan atas keberhasilan panen dan juga mengenang penemuan salib Calvary oleh St Helen, ibunda Kaisar Constantine, kaisar Romawi pertama yang memeluk iman Kristen setelah kemenangannya dalam pertempuran di Saxa-Rubra.
Perayaan ini diselenggarakan secara bergilir oleh keluarga-keluarga yang dipandang mampu di kampung kami.
Malam kemarin Nanna Sika, kepala sekolah desa kami yg menyelenggarakan pesta ini di kebun nanasnya.
Malam ini giliran keluargaku yang menjadi penyelenggara pesta ini. Aku menuturkan kisah ini padamu di tengah-tengah kesibukan kami mempersiapkan pesta. Kulihat Ibuku sedang sibuk di dapur memasak, memanggang, dan mengolah bebagai macam makanan lezat yang akan dihidangkan pada saat pesta malam nanti. Ayahku sibuk merapikan kebun dibantu adikku, Howie. Aku sendiri membantu kakakku Flora membersihkan dan menghias rumah.
Wah, sampai lupa aku menceritakan padamu bagaimana pesta ini sendiri berlangsung!
Perayaan ini didahului oleh pawai orkes musik yang melantunkan lagu-lagu pujian dan lagu-lagu nostalgia yang disukai semua orang. Menyusul di belakangnya prosesi salib dan patung Bunda Suci Maria yang dipimpin oleh Romo Rodriguez, pastor paroki kami. Di belakangnya lagi menyusul arak-arakan Santacruz. Yang berjalan paling depan adalah gadis yang berperan sebagai St Helen, di sampingnya akan berjalan seorg anak laki-laki yang berperan sebagai Kaisar Constantine, mereka diikuti oleh para ratu yang melambangkan kebajikan seperti Fe (iman), Esperanza (pengharapan), Caridad (cinta), Justicia (keadilan), dan sebagainya. Setelah itu berjalan pula banyak pria dan wanita yang berperan sebagai ksatria dan bidadari tokoh-tokoh dalam cerita rakyat kami, maupun tokoh-tokoh dalam Alkitab yang dapat dikenali seperti Rebecca dengan pasu airnya, Methuselah yang berjenggot putih panjang karena usianya yang sangat-sangat tua, Judith dan Esther, pahlawan-pahlawan iman wanita dalam Alkitab, dan St Maria Magdalena dengan buli-buli minyak wanginya yang digunakannya untuk mengurapi kaki Jesus, serta St Veronica dengan kainnya yang digunakan untuk mengusap wajah Jesus. Adalah suatu kehormatan bagi gadis yang bersangkutan jika sampai terpilih memerankan St Helen.
Sssssttt akan kuceritakan suatu rahasia padamu...karena Ayahlah penyelenggara pesta malam nanti, maka dia berhak menentukan siapa yang boleh memerankan St Helen dalam arak-arakan tersebut. Sudah barang tentu Flora yang akan berperan sebagai St Helen malam nanti, sedangkan Howie akan berjalan di sampingnya sebagai Kaisar Constantine. Tidak heran jika Flora gelisah saja seharian ini, sebentar-sebentar diperiksanya apakah gaun barunya yang akan dikenakannya malam nanti sudah siap.
Setelah iring-iringan pawai selesai, saat inilah yang paling kusukai, karena bermacam-macam lomba berhadiah biasanya diadakan.
Di antara lomba-lomba itu ada pabitin. Anak-anak akan berusaha meraih bermacam-macam hadiah yang dikaitkan pada anyaman bambu yang diturun-naikkan. Ada pula acara pinata. Dalam lomba ini seorang anak akan dipilih untuk memecahkan kuali yang terbuat dari tanah liat yang diisi berbagai macam hadiah dan dilapisi kertas perak dan emas dengan mata tertutup, sebelum anak-anak lainnya berebut hadiah yang berhamburan dari kuali tersebut. Lomba lainnya yg juga sama menyenangkannya adalah palosebo, yaitu lomba meraih hadiah yang diikat pada pohon kelapa yang tinggi. Pesta berakhir dengan acara dansa yang disukai oleh Ayah, Ibu, Flora, serta org-org dewasa lainnya. Biasanya aku hanya duduk memandangi pasangan-pasangan berdansa sambil makan sebuah mangga yang ranum dan minum air kelapa yang manis dari kebun kami.
Keesokan paginya para gadis yang sudah berusia di atas 12 tahun akan pergi mempersembahkan bunga-bunga bagi Bunda Maria dalam gereja.
Ah! Kudengar suara Flora memanggilku, sebaiknya kuakhiri kisahku sampai di sini. Salam

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"Easter- the Password"

This is an extract from Ronald Blythe's book, "The Circling Year", a collection of writings addressed to parishioners of a group of churches along the River Stour which he serves as a Reader. Following various paths into old & new liturgies, literature & the local countryside, they bring together the author's delight in language, his recollections of farming, his recognition of friends & neighbours & the hopes he has found in faith. This particular chapter is a recollection of Easter.

1 does not have to read far into Charles Dickens' "A Tale of 2 Cities" before being gripped by 1 of the most thrilling passwords in fiction. it is 'recalled to life'. Even writing it down at this moment brings all my teengae excitement at reading his tale rushing back into my head. Set in the Freanch Revolution, it opens with Mr Lorry of Tellson's Bank, Temple Bar in the process of getting an innocent prisoner out of the terrible Bastille. very soon the Revolution will capture it & set free all its inmates, but only to fill it with other unfortunates, for this is what happens during revolutions. But 1st Dr Manette has to be recalled to life. This will be particularly difficult in his case because ill-treatment has driven him out of his mind. Thus his daughter Lucie, whom he has never seen, has to recall for him what & who he was before imprisonment destroyed his true self. Skilfully, unstressed, indeed unmentioned by Dickens, behind the rehabilittation of Dr Manette, with his emergence from tomb-like darkness into Engalnd's sunshine & Lucie's love, we're made to think of another dark tomb & from it 1 walking towards another woman who at 1st is unable to recognize the person she knew so well. Christ's password too at this moment is 'recalled to life'.
Previously, in the sight & hearing of her & His other friends, He had recalled many a spiritually or physically dead person to life, reminding everbody what life is. His was a supreme understanding of the nature of life. He knew what a tragedy it was, for example, to be only half alive due to illness or loneliness or materialism, worry or strict obedience to certain religious rules. some of those He recalled to life continued to carry the scars inflicted- usually self-inflicted on them by their earlier half-lives, as we all do. But He gave them the strength to carry them. He was marked all over by what we did to Him here.
Here is 1 Easter morning to add to the thousand which have been celebrated in our ancient church buildings, 1 more cry of 'Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green' to add to the hallelujas of the ages. Christ recalls Himself to life, so we sing the old Easter Anthems, high-pitched & ecstatic. They're the words which St Paul wrote with such certainty to the infant church which was finding her feet in Rome.

"Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him...." (Romans 6:9)

St Paul would pull no punches. 'If you don't believe that Christ is risen, is recalled to life, & logically through Him each 1 of you, then this new faith of ours is just that, a new religion, & all of us are being most foolish & to be pitied of."
The Resurrection is sometimes best believed when we remember how certain lesser factors have recalled us to life. Not necessarily those of doctor or priest, whose task is to make us lively, but music, maybe, or larks on a spring day, or having to drop everything due to somebody's urgent needs. Or it maybe a new love or friendship, or just a new book. Certainly a new or awakened sense of gratitude. Jesus was constantly saying thank to His Father. 'He took the cup & gave thanks', 'He took the 5 loaves & 2 fishes & gave thanks', & throughout the Gospels there runs a stream of unspoken gratitude, of thankfulness in His being able to do what His Father wanted Him to do. All gratitude recalls us to life. unconscious ingratitude- there is a lot of it about- denies us life. A basic tenet of christianity is to recall others to life- not necessarily as evangelists, for St Paul wisely said it isn't for everybody to preach, but as intelligent people who can see some prison-house or other closing in on somebody we know. It could be some neighbour or some stranger whose distress is obvious to us.
At this time of the year it is impossible not to feel if only a fraction of that deathlessness which an Easter morning brings with it. On our way to church we see the low crops shinning from the cold spring rains, see the green mist which precedes tree-leaf, notice the 1st flowers. The Young Tecaher walking through Galilee used such resurgence to reveal His & ou immortality. Consider the lilies, see this ear of corn, look at the vine, think of the sparrows, observe this little boy, for He possesses such simplicity which is the symbol of resurrection & 1 that those listening to him, being a country folk, at once understood. Easter is a feast of happiness & of gratitude in which we put aside everything which blunts our joy. At it, we're to think about the kindness of christ. at it He forgave us, humanity at large, for the appling things done to Him on a beautiful earth. At Easter comes a warning that if we hurt & neglect our fellow human beings, we continue to hurt & neglect Him.
A day or 2 ago, in a haze of pain, the dying Christ turned to a dying criminal to tell him that they would soon sharing paradise, He, the perfect 1, His companion in agony, the imperfect 1. What was it that Jesus saw when He turned His fading gaze towards him? He saw a fellow creature made in His Father's image, thus recognizably His brother. What did He hear above the shouts from below? A few faint words of belief in the Kingdom. Thus the 1st person o believe that 'Jesus Christ is risen today' was neither a disciple nor a saint, but a convict.
We mustn't be surprised to find the reality of the Resurrection hard to understand- even to accept. Because so did all those nearest & dearest to Jesus, & there were soon a great many of them- 'a cloud of witnesses', the writer of "The Letter to the Hebrews" calls them. Throughout His ministry they buzzed around Him like bees, catching fragments of His message, clutching at His revolutionary ideas, getting themselves impregnated with His new law, that of love. To them, unlike us, He was not the King of Love, but the Teacher of love. "Rabonni!" said Mary Magdalene when she saw that He wasn't the gardener. Here was no royalty, only her old familiar Friend who dargged her from her earlier existence & raised her so that she could look at Him in the face.
We believe that christ's death invalidate sdeath. He lives & so we live- 'therefore let us keep the feats'. Being recalled to life is a heady experience. We're not recalled to life for a lifetime in the earthly sense. The wonderful thing about Easter is that it lasts for ever. As poets are usually better than theologians at capturing this reality, let us hear Dylan Thomas:

Where blue a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Though they be made & dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
& death shall ahve no dominion.

By Ronald Blythe (2001)

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The Ascension

And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of thier sight.
And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
And they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:6-11)

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Waiting for the Holy Spirit

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olive, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
And when they went up to the upper room, where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,
"Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry."
(Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headling, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
"For it is written in the book of Psalms,
'Lei his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it'; and, 'His office let another take it.'
It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us- beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us- one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection,"
And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.
And they prayed, and said, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."
And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles. (Acts 1:12-26)

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"Selalu di Hati"

Kematian dan perpisahan akan tetap selalu menjadi bagian dari kehidupan, tak terkecuali kehidupan orang-orang percaya. Tetapi orang-orang percaya tidak berdukacita seperti orang-orang yang tanpa pengharapan, sebab berkat wafat dan kebangkitan Kristus, mereka yang meninggal dalam iman akan dikumpulkan oleh Tuhan Allah bersama-sama Dia. Berikut adalah cuplikan sebuah kisah tentang orang-orang yang tetap hidup dalam hati mereka yang mencinta sekalipun maut tampaknya telah memisahkan.

Ketika kami membawanya untuk yang terakhir kalinya ke rumah sakit- pada malam yang dingin di California- dia menoleh padaku dan berbisik perlahan, "Apabila semua ini telah berlalu, janganlah bersedih! Kenangkanlah saat-sat indah, sweaktu kita memadu cinta. Kau mau berjanji bukan?"
Tidak menemukan kata-kata yang tepat untuk kuucapkan, aku hanya mengangguk.
"Kasih, kau harus tabah menghadapi semua ini!"
"Sayang...."
"Jangan bersedih!"
"Ssst, jangan berbicara yang tidak-tidak, dokter mengatakan..."
Cepat-cepat dipotongnya kalimatku, "Aku seorang perawat. Sedikit banyak aku tahu seberapa besar kemungkinan aku dapat sembuh."
Aku hanya membisu. Dia melanjutkan, "Kau yang telah mencintaiku sedemikian rupa, akupun tak akan pernah berhenti mencintaimu. Sekalipun saat aku telah tiada nanti dan tanganmu tidak lagi menggenggam untuk menguatkanku."
"Sayangku...." ujarku lirih.
Sejak pertemuan kami beberapa tahun yang lalu, aku menganggapnya sebagai bidadari. Dia adalah wanita yang luar biasa. Lembut hati dan ringan tangan. Dialah perawatku di rumah sakit tentara. Rambutnya yang keemasan, matanya yang secerah langit biru, senyumnya yang riang, semua itu mengingatkanku pada buaian lembut musik ciptaan Bach.
Para dokter dan perawat yang menanganinya semua mengenalnya sebagai pasien yang baik dan sabar. Tiga kali operasi, radiotherapy, dan beberapa kali transfusi darah dijalaninya dengan tabah.
Kini, hanya bayang-bayang masa silam yang tersisa di wajahnya. Rambutnya memudar, pipi dan bibirnya yang biasanya merona seperti bunga mawar merah muda kini pucat. Hanya matanya yang masih tetap bersinar lembut.
Setelah berminggu-minggu menjalani perawatan, para tenaga medis yang merawatnya mengatakan harapan baginya untuk sembuh sangat kecil.
Jam dua lewat duapuluh lima. Malam yang suram disertai hujan yang lebta. Satu jam lamanya aku menggenggam tangannya sampai akhirnya perlahan-lahan kehangatan tubuhnya surut, tangannya mulai dingin....
Airmata membasahi mata kami malam itu.
"Dia adalah pasien kami yang paling baik," kata perawat kepala.
"Segala usaha telah kami tempuh, " kata dokter spesialis.
"Saya tahu," ujarku lirih.
Aku pulang ke rumah dengan hampa, sedih, dan putus asa.
"Jangan bersedih karena diriku!" Seolah-olah aku masih mendengarnya berkata-kata.
"Mengapa?" tanyaku, memberontak mencari jawaban yang tak pernah kumengerti.
"Mungkin karena kita terlalu saling mencintai." Sayup-sayup kudengar suara lembutnya berkata kepada hatiku.
Pada hari pemakamannya semua yang hadir- para perawat dan dokter, serta semua yang pernah dirawatnya- menyatakan kasih mereka kepadanya.
"Kami sangat kehilangan, " kata mereka.
Aku mengucapkan terima kasih. "Kita semua kehilangan, karena kita semua mengasihinya, tetapi Allah juga mengasihinya, karena itu..." Aku tidak dapat melanjutkan kata-kataku.
Hari-hari sedih dan malam-malam yang menghimpit mengganggu tidurku.
Seminggu berlalu, akhirnya aku tertidur karena letih. Dalam mimpi aku melihatnya.
"Bukankah kau telah berjanji untuk tidak terus menerus bersedih dan menyiksa diri? Kau telah melakukan segalanya untukku bahkan lebih...."
"Aku tidak dapat berbuat lain kecuali bersedih," keluhku.
"Sayang," dia masih memanggilku demikian, "Kuatkan dirimu! Kenangkanlah musim semi cinta kita."
"Aku telah belajar mengenal hidup dan berkat-berkatnya darimu."
"Tetapi aku telah berlalu," ujarnya lembut. "Tiap kehidupan akan berlalu, pria dan wanita, tua ataupun muda, kaupun suatu hari akan berlalu."
Aku mengangguk lemah.
Kemudian dia berkata lagi, "Aku tidak pernah benar-benar meninggalkanmu. Malam ini aku datang untuk memberitahukan kepadamu, bahwa aku akan menyelinap masuk dalam hatimu dan hidup di sana- selamanya."
Dia mengecup dahiku dan menggenggam tanganku sampai matahari pagi bersinar masuk lewat jendela. Aku terbangun.
"Sejak saat ini," kudengar suaranya, "sampai selamanya."
Aku pun bersyukur.

By T. C. Lengyel (1976)

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The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, & it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
There appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, & were bewildered because each 1 of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
They were amazed & astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
Parthians & Medes & Elamites, & residents of Mesopotamia, Judea & Cappadocia, Pontus & Asia, Phrygia & Pamphylia, Egypt & the districts of Libya around Cyrene, & visitors from Rome, both Jews & proselytes, Cretans and Arabs- we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."
They all continued in amazement & great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:1-12)

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"The Holy Grail"

The story of how the Knights of the Round table went questing for the Holy Grail, as we have known it for the past 800 hundred years or so, & as Sir Thomas Malory retold it so superbly in "Morte d'Arthur", stands out out on its own from among all the rest of the Arthurian legends because above them all, it is a Christian story & carries within it the things of the Spirit that seemed especially important to the people of the Middle Ages. At 1 level it is the story of King Arthur's knights searching for the cup of the Last Supper; on a deeper level, it is an account of human's search for God.

The Round Table at Camelot was occupied by the best knights in all the world. But for many years, 1 seat remained empty. Nobody could sit on it & live, which is why it was called the Siege Perilous, or seat of danger. Merlin prophesied that when a knight came to claim the Siege Perilous, the days of the Round Table would be drawing to a close.
1 day, at the Feast of Pentecost, a young knight appeared at court, in red armour & without weapons. He bowed to King Arthur, walked straight to the Siege Perilous, & sat down. The knights gasped. But behind the young knight appeared in letters of gold 'Galahad, the High Prince'.
"Welcome," said King Arthur. "Please tell us who you are!"
"I'm Sir Galahad, & my mother Helen is the daughter of King Pelles of Corbenic, the Maimed King."
"I have heard of King Pelles, who lies crippled at the castle of Corbenic. But I didn't know he had a grandson. Yet, I feel I know you. You look like Sir Lancelot when he came to this court as a young man years ago."
"This is not surprising," said Sir Lancelot, "for he is my son. I sired him through Princess Helen, the Lily Maiden."
That night, as the knight feasted, there was a tremendous storm outside. Thunder crashed overheard & lightning flooded the hall with light. The knights were silenced, & into that silence & strange light came a young woman of unearthly beauty bearing a vessel covered with a white cloth. From that vessel each knight drank, each experienced intense happiness to the fullest of their capacity. When the maiden left, the unearthly light disappeared with her.
"What can this mean?" asked King Arthur.
Sir Galahad replied, "That vessel was the Holy Grail. I will not rest until I have seen it uncovered." The other knights agrred, "We must find the Grail, which has been lost for so long."
King Arthur was reluctant to let them go, for he foresaw that this was no ordinary quest, & that many knights must fail, & perhaps die along the way. He knew now the meaning of Merlin's prophecy. But once the knights had sworn to search for the Holy Grail, they had to do so.
King Arthur's knight set out in all directions, each following his won way. Their adventures on this, the greatest of all quests, would easily fill a book on their own. But most of these tales tell of knights who lost their way & became embroiled in fights & love affiars. The quest of the Holy Grail was not for worldly men such as these, but only for the pure in heart.
In the end only 3 knights rode together, free from rivalry, greed, or ambition, searching for the Grail with all their hearts & minds. They were Sir Percival, Sir Bors, & Sir Galahad. Behind them, rode Sir Lancelot, begging God's forgiveness for his adulterous love affair with Queen Guinevere.
The 3 chosen knights arrived at a seashore & found a magic ship waiting for them. They stepped on board, & at once the ship set sail. It took them to the castle of Corbenic, where Sir Galahad's grandfather, King Pelles, ruled over a blighted kingdom from his bed of pain.
In King Pelles' bedchamber, the strange, intense light appeared again. 3 angelic women appeared. The 1st was carrying a golden candle, the 2nd was carrying the Holy Grail, but this time was uncovered, & it was clear that it was the source of the light, the last maiden carried a spear that seemed to weep blood from its tip in great drops, which the 2nd maiden caught in the Grail.
"What does this mean?" asked Sir Galahad.
"This spear is the spear thet pierced Christ's side as He hung on the Cross. The vessel is the Holy Grail, in which were caught the drops of His blood that issued from the wound."
Sir Galahad took the spear & touch King Pelles with its tip. At once the old king was made well again, & his blighted kingdom began to bloom once more. Then they all went into the chapel & celebrated mass, but this time only Sir Galahad saw the Holy Grail uncovered for among the knights only he alone was utterly pure in thought & deed. When he had done soo, he seemed to fill with light, until he became 1 with it. Then he, the 3 angels, the spear, & the Grail disappeared from the world of human for ever....

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Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week which will culminate in Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, & Easter Vigil).
Today the Church celebrates Christ hailed as a King as He entered Jerusalem, yet the same crowd who hailed Him as their King today would demand His death a few days later. In today's reading, these 2 events are contrasted.

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The Triumphant Entry

When He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' you shall say this, 'The Lord has need of it.'" So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it. And as He rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." (Luke 19:29-40)

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The Passion of the Christ according to St Luke

While He was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" And when those who were about Him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
Then they seized Him and led Him away, bringing Him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance; and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, "This man also was with Him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." And a little later some one else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with Him; for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat Him; they also blindfolded Him and asked Him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?" And they spoke many other words against Him, reviling Him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Him away to their council, and they said, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And He said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from His own lips."
Then the whole company of them arose, and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ a king." And Pilate asked Him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And He answered him, "You have said so." And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no crime in this Man." But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see Him, because he had heard about Him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by Him. So he questioned Him at some length; but He made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him. And Herod with his soldiers treated Him with contempt and mocked Him; then, arraying Him in gorgeous apparel, he sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this Man as one who was perverting the people; and after examining Him before you, behold, I did not find this Man guilty of any of your charges against Him; neither did Herod, for he sent Him back to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him; I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast day. But they all cried out together, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas!" A man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus; but they shouted out, "Crucify, crucify Him!" A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found in Him no crime deserving death; I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that He should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed Him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children! For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never gave suck!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' And to the hills, 'Cover us!' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. And when they came to the place which is called the Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" There was also an inscription over Him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit!" And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this Man was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things. (Luke 22:47-23:49)

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All Glory, Laud, & Honour

Refrain:
All glory, laud and honour,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One. Ref

The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply. Ref

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present. Ref

To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise. Ref

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King. Ref

Words by St Theodulph of Orleans (circa 820), music by William H. Monk (1861).

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On Maundy Thursday the Church commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples & the institution of the Eucharist & the Sacrament of the Ordination. The word 'maundy' comes from the Latin word 'mandatum', command, as Christ gave a new command to His disciples to love 1 another as He had loved them.
Maundy Thursday is taken up with a succession of ceremonies of a joyful character. The baptism of neophytes, the reconciliation of penitents, the consecration of the holy oils, the washing of the feet, & most importantly the commemoration of the Blessed Eucharist.
The Church does not ring bells again after tonight until Easter. At the end of the celebration the Consecrated Host is being taken out of the Tabernacle in a solemn procession to be placed in a quiet room outside the church symbolizing Christ's last moments in Gethsemane.

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On Maundy Thursday the Church commemorates Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples & the institution of the Eucharist & the Sacrament of the Ordination. The word 'maundy' comes from the Latin word 'mandatum', command, as Christ gave a new command to His disciples to love 1 another as He had loved them.
Maundy Thursday is taken up with a succession of ceremonies of a joyful character. The baptism of neophytes, the reconciliation of penitents, the consecration of the holy oils, the washing of the feet, & most importantly the commemoration of the Blessed Eucharist.
The Church does not ring bells again after tonight until Easter. At the end of the celebration the Consecrated Host is being taken out of the Tabernacle in a solemn procession to be placed in a quiet room outside the church symbolizing Christ's last moments in Gethsemane.

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post by hansel @ WG
halaman berikutnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/05/easter-anthology-4-dari-5.html