Easter Anthology (5 dari 5-habis)

sebelumnya http://renunganpagi.blogspot.com/2004/05/easter-anthology-4-dari-5.html

The Passion of the Christ According to St Matthew

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told the disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is swallowed up in sorrow- to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me." Going a little farther, He fell on His face, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. "What?" He asked Peter. "Couldn't you stay awake with Me one hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done." And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let's go! See- My betrayer is near."
While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a large mob, with swords and clubs, who were sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. His betrayer had given them a sign: "The one I kiss, He's the one; arrest Him!" So he went right up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And kissed Him. "Friend," Jesus asked him, "why have you come?" Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's slave and cut off his ear. Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me. But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.
Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest's courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the temple police to see the outcome. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death. But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward stated, "This man said, 'I can demolish God's sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.'" The high priest then stood up and said to Him, "Don't You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?" But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, "By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!"
"You have said it," Jesus told him. "But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you've heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?" They answered, "He deserves death!" Then they spit in His face and beat Him; and others slapped Him and said, "Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who hit You?"
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, "You were with Jesus the Galilean too." But he denied it in front of everyone: "I don't know what you're talking about!" When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!" And again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man!" After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, "You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away." Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, "I do not know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

__________________

The Passion of the Christ According to St Matthew

When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. After tying Him up, they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and to the elders. "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood," he said. "What's that to us?" they said. "See to it yourself!" So he threw the silver into the sanctuary and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver and said, "It's not lawful to put it into the temple treasury, since it is blood money." So they conferred together and bought the potter's field with it as a burial place for foreigners. Therefore that field has been called Blood Field to this day. Then what was spoken through the Prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: They took the 30 pieces of silver, the price of Him whose price was set by the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.
Now Jesus stood before the governor. "Are You the King of the Jews?" the governor asked Him. Jesus answered, "You have said it." And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He didn't answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Don't You hear how much they are testifying against You?" But He didn't answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. At the festival the governor's custom was to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you- Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?" For he knew they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judge's bench, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I've suffered terribly in a dream because of Him!" The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" "Barabbas!" they answered. Pilate asked them, "What should I do then with Jesus, who is called the Christ?" They all answered, "Crucify Him!" Then he said, "Why? What has He done wrong?" But they kept shouting, "Crucify Him!" all the more. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of this man's blood. See to it yourselves!" All the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"
Then he released Barabbas to them. But after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified. Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into headquarters and gathered the whole company around Him. They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet robe. They twisted a crown out of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a reed in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spit at Him, took the reed, and kept hitting Him on the head. When they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced this man to carry His cross.
When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Place), they gave Him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. After crucifying Him they divided His clothes by casting lots. Then they sat down and were guarding Him there. Above His head they put up the charge against Him in writing. Then two criminals were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. Those who passed by were yelling insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, "The One who would demolish the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him and said, "He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He has put His trust in God, let God rescue Him now- if He wants Him! For He said, 'I am God's Son.'" In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with Him kept taunting Him. From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. At about three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling for Elijah!" Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, fixed it on a reed, and offered Him a drink. But the rest said, "Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him!"
Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest were raised. And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, "This man really was God's Son!" Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him were there, looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
When it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph came, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate ordered that it be released. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there, facing the tomb. (Matthew 26:36-27:61)

__________________

The Resurrection

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. But the angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay! Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee, you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you!" So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, "Rejoice!" They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus told them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there." (St Matthew 28:1-10)

__________________

"Apostola Apostolorum Part 1"

Semua yang terjadi Jumat petang itu masih terpatri kuat dalam ingatanku. Pontius Pilate memerintahkan agar jenazah-Nya diturunkan dari salib atas permintaan para imam kepala karena besok adalah hari raya. Membiarkan mayat-mayat tak terawat pada hari raya adalah suatu kekejian di mata Allah. Tentu mereka tidak menghendaki kekudusan hari raya esok tercemari oleh jenazah-jenazah yang tergantung di atas salib di luar tembok Jerusalem.
Kami semua yang mengasihi-Nya berdiri di sana untuk menerima jenazah-Nya dari tangan para prajurit.
Kulihat Joseph dari Arimathea dan Nicodemus juga hadir di antara kami. Mereka berdua anggota Sanhedrin, namun mereka mempercayai-Nya. Hanya saja ketakutan akan kehilangan kehormatan telah membuat mereka bersikap bagai pengecut selama ini. Kini setelah semuanya berakhir tak ada lagi yang perlu mereka takuti. Para imam tidak akan pernah tahu bahwa mereka berdua pernah mempercayai Jesus, penyesat dari Nazareth itu, yang menyatakan Diri-Nya sebagai Kristus dan Anak Allah yang berhak mengampuni dosa. Mereka datang untuk ikut merawat jenazah-Nya. Merawat jenazah, meskipun itu jenazah seorang musuh, adalah suatu tindakan kemurahan hati, para imam tidak akan melarang mereka melakukan hal tersebut. Joseph memberikan gua makam baru yang sesungguhnya diperuntukkan bagi dirinya sendiri untuk menyemayamkan jenazah-Nya dan Nicodemus membawa rempah-rempah untuk mengurapi dan merawat jenazah-Nya. Mungkin mereka berpikir sekaranglah saatnya menunjukkan cinta dan bakti mereka pada-Nya, sesuatu yang tidak dapat mereka lakukan selagi Dia hidup.
Air mataku berderai dan isak yang tertahan pecah saat menyentuh jenazah-Nya yang diletakkan di pangkuan bunda-Nya. Guruku, Penyelamatku, Kekasih jiwaku kini terbaring tak bernyawa. Siksaan dan deraan yang ditimpakan pada-Nya telah merusak tubuh-Nya, seperti bukan manusia lagi rupanya. Aku berlutut dan menciumi kaki-Nya, sekali lagi kubasahi kaki itu dengan air mataku, sama seperti yang kulakukan dulu di rumah Simon orang Pharisee. Namun kali ini tidak kudengar kata-kata-Nya yang menghibur dan menguatkan, tidak kudengar tuturnya yang memulihkanku dari hina cela yang ditujukkan orang-orang padaku. Yang ada hanyalah sesosok tubuh yang perlahan-lahan menjadi dingin di hadapanku.
John, Murid yang Dikasihi-Nya, menyentuh bahuku untuk menenangkan diriku. Kulihat duka juga terpancar di matanya, tetapi dia memilih bersikap tenang. Tiba-tiba aku merasa malu. Dalam kesedihan aku seolah lupa bahwa ibu-Nya juga sedang berduka. Adalah tugas kami untuk saling menghibur dan menguatkan, namun aku justru tenggelam dalam dukaku sendiri yang mungkin justru menambah nestapa yang kami alami bersama ini.
Aku mengarahkan pandanganku pada ibu-Nya. Tak kulihat air mata mengalir di pipinya, namun pedang dukacita bersarang di hatinya. Dipeluknya tubuh Putranya erat-erat. Tiap luka di tubuh-Nya seolah-olah meneriakkan penderitaan dan kesengsaraan-Nya, penderitaan dan kesengsaraan yang juga meninggalkan luka-luka dalam hati ibu-Nya. Sesekali dia menengadah ke langit sambil menggumamkan sesuatu. Sesekali pandangan matanya menerawang jauh seolah berkata dalam kebisuan kepada setiap orang, “Acuh tak acuhkah kamu sekalian yang berlalu? Lihat dan pandanglah! Adakah kesedihan seperti yang ditimpakan Tuhan kepadaku?”
Tetapi waktu tak mengizinkan kami berlama-lama larut dalam kesedihan. Sabbath menjelang. Sebentar lagi kerlip bintang-bintang pertama akan terlihat di langit senja pertanda Sabbath telah tiba. Kami harus segera menghentikan semua pekerjaan kami dan berada di rumah untuk beribadah. Joseph dan Nicodemus datang dan meminta izin ibu-Nya untuk merawat dan mempersiapkan jenazah-Nya untuk dimakamkan sebab tak banyak lagi waktu yang tersedia. Diciumnya pipi yang dingin itu untuk terakhir kalinya sebelum mereka mengambil jenazah-Nya dari pelukannya.
Aku berdiri dan mengikuti mereka ke taman tempat makam yang disiapkan bagi-Nya berada. John menggandeng ibu-Nya. Aku menyusul dan bergabung bersama mereka. Para wanita lain berjalan di belakang kami.
Nicodemus mengurapi jenazah-Nya dengan rempah-rempah yang dibawanya sebelum kain linen yang dibawa Joseph dibebatkan erat pada tubuh-Nya. Tak ada lagi waktu bagi kami untuk memandikan dan mendandani jenazah-Nya. Doa-doa kami panjatkan dengan singkat.
Setelah siap tubuh-Nya dibawa untuk dibaringkan di dalam gua. Betapa ngerinya aku membayangkan malam ini tubuh-Nya berada dalam kegelapan makam yang sunyi dan dingin. Tak terasa air mataku menetes lagi membayangkan hal ini.
Beberapa orang prajurit datang bersama beberapa orang imam. Mereka menyuruh kami segera keluar dari dalam gua. Setelah memastikan bahwa jenazah-Nya memang terbaring dalam gua itu, sebuah batu yang sangat besar mereka gulingkan di depan mulut gua untuk mencegah orang keluar masuk lagi. Setelah itu para imam memasang segel pada batu itu sebagai pernyataan bahwa memang Jesus dari Nazarethlah yang dimakamkan di tempat itu agar tak seorangpun bisa mencuri jenazah-Nya dan berkata bahwa Jesus telah kembali pada kehidupan tanpa merusak segel. Prajurit-prajurit itu kemudian tinggal untuk berjaga di sana.
Bersama John dan ibu-Nya, aku meninggalkan taman itu meskipun dalam hati kami seolah ikut dimakamkan bersama Dia dalam gua yang gelap itu.
Para wanita di belakang kami berkata satu sama lain bahwa segera setelah Sabbath berlalu mereka akan kembali untuk memakamkan jenazah-Nya dengan lebih layak.
Untuk apa? pikirku, pemakaman yang paling agung dan terhormat sekalipun tidak akan mengembalikan-Nya kepada kami. Dia telah diambil dari tengah-tengah kami. Meskipun kenangan akan Diri-Nya tetap akan hidup dalam diri kami, Dia sendiri tidak. Tetapi biarlah mereka berbuat demikian jika mereka mau, jika itu bisa menghibur dan meringankan derita dalam hati mereka.
Bintang-bintang mulai bermunculan di langit senja yang semakin memerah di belakang kami sementara di kejauhan bayang-bayang salib di atas bukit memanjang saat kami memasuki gerbang kota Jerusalem...To be continued

__________________

"Apostola Apostolorum Part 2"

Sepanjang malam dan sepanjang siang keesokan harinya kami beristirahat untuk beribadah sebagaimana hukum Taurat memerintahkan.
Satu demi satu sahabat-sahabat-Nya yang sejak malam penangkapan-Nya menyembunyikan diri kembali ke rumah Maria dari Jerusalem. Di ruang atas rumah itu kami berkumpul. Di ruang yang sama, pada malam sebelum Dia ditangkap, Jesus mengadakan perjamuan Pesach bersama kedua belas sahabat-Nya yang terpilih.
Aku memang tidak hadir di sana saat itu, namun setiap pelosok dan sudut ruang itu membawa kembali kenangan akan Jesus kepada kami. Seolah masih kulihat sosok-Nya yang penuh kehangatan duduk bersama-sama kami, seolah masih kudengar suara-Nya yang tenang, tawa-Nya yang riang, dan kata-kata-Nya yang sering mengejutkan namun juga menentramkan.
Betapa aku merindukan Dia ada bersama kami. Kalau saja Dia ada bersama kami tentu Dia sedang makan bersama-sama kami. Dia paling menyenangi saat-saat kami berkumpul dan makan bersama. Bahkan Dia pernah mengumpamakan kerajaan surga bagai suatu jamuan makan. Martha, saudariku, pasti akan sibuk melayani-Nya, dan aku, seperti biasa, akan duduk mendengarkan-Nya di dekat kaki-Nya.
Semua sahabat-Nya berkumpul di ruang itu. Simon yang dipanggil-Nya Peter si Batu Karang duduk menyendiri di sudut ruangan seolah enggan bergabung bersama yang lain. Matanya merah dan bengkak bekas tangisan berkepanjangan. Kudengar dia telah menyangkal mengenal Gurunya di hadapan hamba-hamba para imam. Tentu dia sedang menangisi dan menyesali kepengecutannya. John, Murid Terkasih, tidak pernah berada jauh-jauh dari ibu-Nya. Mereka berdua saling berpegangan tangan. Thomas dan sahabat-sahabat-Nya yang lain bercakap-cakap dengan suara perlahan seolah takut suara mereka terdengar sampai ke luar. Para wanita sibuk merencanakan apa yang akan mereka lakukan besok pagi-pagi sekali untuk merawat jenazah-Nya lagi.
“Aku akan pulang ke Emmaus besok,” terdengar suara Cleopas memecah kebisuan yang menekan.
Perkataannya membuat kami tersentak. Kami telah tenggelam dalam kesunyian hati masing-masing sehingga tidak menyadari bahwa meskipun Dia telah pergi, kami yang tinggal masih harus meneruskan hidup. Namun hidup macam apa?
Cleopas memutuskan untuk kembali ke Emmaus kampung halamannya.
Simon Peter bersuara tanpa bangkit dari duduknya dari sudutnya, “Aku akan kembali ke Capernaum. Perahu dan jalaku sudah lama tidak kugunakan.”
“Kami ikut denganmu,” ujar Andrew yang diikuti Thomas dan James.
Kemudian kudengar Nathaniel menyatakan akan kembali ke Cana.
Semua akan kembali menjalani kehidupan mereka yang dulu sebelum bertemu Jesus. Ya, mereka semua memiliki kehidupan sebelum bertemu Jesus. Tetapi bagaimana denganku? Hidup macam apa yang kumiliki sebelum bertemu dengan-Nya? Maria dari Bethany yang lebih dikenal sebagai Maria Magdalene, Maria dari Magdala. Wanita yang menjadi buah bibir setiap orang. Direndahkan kaum pria, dicerca kaum wanita. Tak seorangpun sudi menjadi temanku sehingga akhirnya setan dan jinlah yang mengawaniku, dan bukan hanya satu, tujuh setan dan jin yang semula menjadi kawanku kemudian memiliki dan menguasai diriku sedemikian rupa sehingga aku bahkan tidak tahu lagi apa artinya hidup dan mengapa aku hidup.
Itulah kehidupanku yang lama, jika itu bisa disebut sebagai suatu kehidupan.
Sampai suatu hari kulihat Dia duduk di keteduhan bayang-bayang pohon cypress di dekat kebun anggur. Dia memanggil namaku. Dia memanggil namaku seolah-olah aku ini sahabat-Nya. Tiba-tiba aku merasa aku sedang telanjang di hadapan-Nya. Tak ada yang dapat kulakukan untuk menutupi ketelanjanganku. Namun Dia tidak memalingkan wajah-Nya, pun tidak menegurku atas ketelanjanganku. Dia hanya tersenyum melihat aku salah tingkah di hadapan-Nya. Dia memanggil namaku lagi. Dan akupun menangis.
Sampai lama Dia membiarkan aku menangis kemudian Dia beranjak bangkit dari duduk-Nya dan menghampiriku. Dihapus-Nya air mataku dengan kedua tangan-Nya yang kekar. Dan Dia berkata kepadaku dengan sorot mata lembut, sorot mata yang mengingatkanku pada anak domba yang merumput di padang di musim semi, “Kekasih-kekasihmu mencintai kecantikanmu Maria, tetapi Aku mencintai jiwamu.” Dan Dia menjadi Kekasih jiwaku sejak saat itu dan aku tahu aku ini hidup.
Tetapi hidup ini hendak dirampas lagi dariku. Aku seperti dihempaskan kembali kepada kehidupanku yang lama, kehidupan dalam kematian.
Kucoba menepis bayang-bayang menakutkan akan kehidupanku yang dulu. Namun bayang-bayang itu datang dan datang lagi padaku. Sepanjang malam aku tersiksa oleh bayang-bayang ini. Ketujuh setan dan jin yang telah meninggalkan diriku seperti menghampiriku lagi. Aku menangis dengan tangisan tak bersuara sehingga tak ada yang tahu bahwa aku belum memejamkan mataku sampai jauh malam.
Kegelapan kehidupanku yang lama terus mendera jiwaku sampai akhirnya di penghujung malam itu aku mendengar suatu suara, suatu nyanyian. Suara nyanyian Kekasih jiwaku yang mengalun di telingaku.

“Bangunlah kekasih-Ku, bangunlah dara jelita, marilah! Lihatlah musim dingin sudah lewat, musim hujan telah berlalu. Bunga-bunga bermekaran di ladang. Kicauan merpati terdengar di tanah kita. Pohon ara mulai berbuah, sulur anggur semerbak oleh bunga-bunganya. Bangunlah kekasih-Ku, bangunlah dara jelita, marilah!”*

Kasihku, jerit hatiku mendengar suara-Nya. Dalam kegelapan aku mencoba menemukan sosok-Nya. Namun tak kutemukan Dia, hanya suara nyanyiannya terus mengalun di telingaku.

“Bangunlah kekasih-Ku, bangunlah dara jelita, marilah!”

Aku berjalan mengikuti suara nyanyian itu.
Para wanita sudah terjaga. Mereka tengah menyiapkan rempah-rempah untuk dibawa ke makam. Mereka menatapku heran melihat diriku berjalan bagaikan tak sadar.
“Maria,” tegur Joanna, “hendak ke mana kau? Hari masih gelap.”
“Maria,” kudengar suara saudariku Martha, “tidakkah kau mendengar kami?”
Tanpa menghiraukan mereka aku terus mengikuti suara nyanyian Kekasihku. Aku mengikuti suara nyanyian itu sampai ke luar rumah.
“Dia tidak mendengarkan kita. Apakah dia…?” Joanna tidak melanjutkan kata-katanya.
Martha yang selalu lugas berkata, “Kesedihan dalam hatinya membuat keadaan jiwanya buruk, mungkin roh-roh jahat yang pernah menguasainya kembali padanya.”
“Kita harus mengikutinya,” kata Salome.
“Tetapi hari masih gelap,” Susanna menimpali.
“Gelap atau terang kita tidak dapat membiarkannya berkeliaran di kota seorang diri seperti itu,” ujar Martha. “Rempah-rempah sudah siap, kita bawa saja sekalian.”
Mereka bergegas menyusulku... To be continued

*)Kidung Agung 2:10-14

"Apostola Apostolorum Part 3"

Aku masih terus berjalan mengikuti suara nyanyian itu, namun tak juga kujumpai Kekasihku.
Aku menyusuri jalan-jalan Jerusalem dalam gelap sambil mencari-cari Kekasih jiwaku. Kubalas nyanyiannya dengan ratapan.

“Di atas ranjangku di malam hari, kucari Jantung Hatiku. Kucari, tapi tak kutemukan Dia. Aku hendak bangun dan berkeliling kota, di jalan-jalan dan lapangan kucari Jantung Hatiku, tapi tak kutemukan Dia.”*

Tanpa kusadari langkahku membawaku menuju taman tempat Dia dibaringkan.
Fajar telah menyingsing ketika aku tiba di sana. Puncak-puncak perbukitan Judea yang mengelilingi Jerusalem mulai terlihat. Kicau burung mulai terdengar menyambut pagi.
Para wanita yang berjalan di belakangku bertanya satu sama lain.
“Siapakah yang akan menggulingkan batu bagi kita agar kita dapat masuk ke dalam gua? Mustahil agaknya meminta prajurit-prajurit Roma untuk menolong kita.”
Tiba-tiba langkahku terhenti!
Meskipun dari jauh aku dapat melihat bahwa mulut gua itu terbuka dan batu besar yang menutupinya sudah terguling agak jauh dari tempatnya semula. Tak satu prajuritpun terlihat menjaga.
Aku segera berlari menuju ke gua.
Dia tidak ada di sana! Tubuh-Nya tidak terbaring di sana!
Dalam kekalutan pikiranku, hanya satu kemungkinan yang memenuhi benakku. Musuh-musuh-Nya begitu membenci-Nya sehingga tidak membiarkan Dia beristirahat dengan tenang, maka mereka mengambil jenazah-Nya dan menyembunyikan-Nya dari orang-orang yang mengasihi-Nya.
Betapa jahatnya! Betapa kejamnya! Tidakkah kebencian mereka turut sirna bersama kematian-Nya? Mengapa mereka melakukan hal ini?
Aku menangis. Suara tangisku menggema di pagi hari itu. Guruku, Penyelamatku, Kekasih jiwaku, bahkan dalam kematian Dia tidak dapat beristirahat dalam damai.
Aku berlari meninggalkan taman. Sahabat-sahabat-Nya harus mengetahui hal ini. Aku harus memberitahu mereka.
Para wanita terheran-heran melihatku tiba-tiba menangis dan meninggalkan taman.
“Maria!”
Masih kudengar Joanna berseru memanggilku. Namun tak kuhiraukan seruannya. Aku terus berlari kembali ke kota.
Aku berlari dan terus berlari sampai akhirnya aku tiba di rumah. Suara tangisanku mengejutkan penghuni lainnya.
“Simon...Simon....”
Simon Peter bangkit menghampiriku.
“Ada apa Maria? Katakan apa yang terjadi!”
“Mereka...mereka telah mengambil-Nya,” ujarku terbata-bata dalam isak tangisku.
“Siapa telah mengambil siapa? Hentikan tangismu dan tuturkan dengan jelas apa yang baru saja menimpamu!” Simon Peter bertanya dengan nada tidak sabar.
“Mereka telah mengambil tubuh Guru, dan aku tak tahu di mana mereka menyembunyikan-Nya.”
Semua terkejut mendengar penuturanku.
“Maksudmu, tubuh-Nya tidak ada dalam makam-Nya?” Simon Peter bertanya lagi.
“Makam-Nya terbuka ketika aku tiba di sana dan tubuh-Nya tidak terbaring di dalamnya.”
“Simon,” kata John tiba-tiba, “ingatkah kau apa yang dikatakan-Nya ketika Dia masih hidup? Dia berkata, ‘Anak Manusia akan diserahkan ke tangan bangsa-bangsa yang tak mengenal Tuhan Allah. Mereka akan menyesah dan menyalibkan Dia. Namun pada hari ketiga Dia akan bangkit.’ Ya itulah yang dikatakan-Nya! Mungkinkah...”
Simon Peter segera berlari keluar rumah sebelum John menyelesaikan kata-katanya.
“Simon, tunggu aku!” John berlari menyusul Simon Peter.
Karena tak tahu lagi apa yang harus kuperbuat, akupun berlari keluar kembali untuk mengikuti Peter dan John. Mereka berlari jauh meninggalkan diriku di belakang.
Ketika aku sampai kembali di taman, kulihat mereka berdua keluar dari dalam gua. Mereka menggeleng-gelengkan kepala sambil terus bergumam, “Mustahil…mustahil.”
“Simon, apa yang harus kita lakukan? Tidakkah kau akan berbuat sesuatu?” tanyaku. Simon hanya memandangku dan membisu, kemudian berjalan meninggalkanku.
“John...” kataku pula. Namun John juga tidak berkata apa-apa.
Mereka keluar dari taman meninggalkanku seorang diri dan aku mulai meratap lagi. Kulihat pecahan buli-buli dan rempah-rempah berserakan di tanah. Barulah kusadari bahwa aku tidak melihat para wanita yang seharusnya berada di sana. Mungkin mereka telah pulang lewat jalan lain. Mungkin pula mereka menjatuhkan buli-buli mereka ke tanah dalam keterkejutan dan ketakutan mereka setelah melihat makam yang kosong.
Aku melihat ke dalam gua lagi untuk memastikan bahwa tubuh-Nya memang tidak terbaring di sana.
Betapa terkejutnya aku melihat ada dua orang duduk di tempat tubuh-Nya pernah dibaringkan! Aku tidak tahu apakah mereka pria atau wanita, busana yang mereka kenakan putih benderang.
Mereka bertanya kepadaku, “Wanita, mengapa kau menangis?”
Sebelum aku sempat menjawab, aku mendengar suara lain di belakangku menegur, “Wanita, mengapa kau menangis? Siapakah yang kaucari?”
Aku menoleh ke belakang, ke arah suara itu. Air mata dan kesedihan mengaburkan pandanganku. Aku menyangka aku sedang berhadapan dengan juru taman.
“Mereka telah mengambil tubuh Guruku,” kataku sambil menangis pilu, kemudian lanjutku, “Tuan, jikalau Tuan tahu, katakan kepadaku di mana mereka menyembunyikan tubuh-Nya supaya aku dapat mengambil-Nya!”
“Maria,” juru taman itu menyapaku lembut.
Dia memanggil namaku dengan suara yang sangat kukenal, dengan suara yang sangat kucintai dan kurindukan. Tiba-tiba mataku terbuka. Juru taman itu adalah Kekasih jiwaku!
Kulihat sosok-Nya yang indah, kulihat rambut coklat-Nya yang ikal, kulihat senyum-Nya yang manis, kulihat sorot matanya yang lembut. Betapa aku merindukan Diri-Nya, betapa aku rindu memeluk-Nya.
“Rabboni*!” jeritku dan tersungkur memeluk kaki-Nya. Kulihat lubang bekas paku pada kaki itu, namun lubang itu justru tampak indah di mataku seolah-olah ada aliran cinta keluar dari dalamnya. Untuk ketiga kalinya kaki itu kubasahi dengan air mataku. Jika di rumah Simon orang Pharisee kaki itu basah oleh air mata penyesalanku, dan air mata dukaku bercucuran di kaki-Nya di Calvary, kali ini air mata bahagiaku yang mengalir dan menetes di kaki-Nya.
Aku memeluk kaki-Nya dan tidak hendak melepaskan-Nya lagi. Namun Dia berkata kepadaku, “Janganlah kau terus berpegangan pada-Ku, sebab Aku belum kembali kepada Bapa-Ku! Pergilah dan ceritakan kepada sahabat-sahabat-Ku apa yang kau lihat dan kaualami, katakan kepada mereka bahwa Aku kembali kepada Allah-Ku dan Allah-mu, Bapa-Ku dan Bapa-Mu!” Dan Dia menghilang.
Dia menghilang, namun aku tidak lagi bersedih sebab aku tahu Dia hidup. Dia sungguh hidup dan karenanya akupun hidup. Dia hidup lebih dekat dengan jiwaku kini daripada sebelumnya.
Taman itu masih sesunyi semula karena hari masih pagi benar, tetapi taman itu menjadi semarak oleh nyanyian hatiku. Rerumputan yang basah oleh embun, bunga-bunga yang bermekaran, dan kicau burung-burung yang berloncatan di dahan seolah mengiringi kebahagiaanku.
Jauh di masa lampau, ketika dunia baru saja tercipta, sepasang pria dan wanita berbahagia di Taman Eden. Hari ini, dalam taman ini, aku merasa kebahagiaanku jauh melebihi kebahagiaan mereka. Aku bagaikan pengantin dan Dia mempelai yang menyongsongku untuk menghapus air mata kerinduanku dan memberikan kebahagiaan padaku.
Tubuhku terasa ringan, aku ingin menari dan bersenandung. Aku ingin melagukan kebahagiaanku.

“Kekasihku milikku, dan aku milik-Nya, yang menggembalakan domba di padang bunga lily.”***

Aku harus pergi, aku harus membagikan kebahagiaan ini kepada sahabat-sahabat-Nya. Ya Kekasih jiwaku telah mengutusku! Aku akan pergi kepada mereka. The end


diposting hansel @ WG

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.

__________________

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 (????)

__________________

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)

______________________

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

__________________

"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)

__________________

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)

__________________

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)

__________________

"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)

__________________

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)

__________________

"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....

__________________

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.

__________________

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)

__________________

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)

__________________

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).

__________________

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.

__________________

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.

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