He Is Risen From The Dead

HE IS NOT HERE

Israel Pilgrimage--2006

Some believe

the Body of Messiah was placed

in the highly venerated

tomb located in the Church

of the Holy Sepulcher

Some believe

He was buried

in a pastoral place

known as the Garden Tomb

The important thing is—

He died. He rose.

He’ll come again.

The important thing is

as a placard proclaims

at the entrance

to the Garden Tomb:

He is not here—

He is risen from the dead

and the important thing is—

We live because He lives

so there’s nothing important

left to say, except

Hallelujah! Praise Him!

Maude Carolan Pych

The above poem is from my chapbook, "A Pilgrim's Quest"

My friend, Sister Jane Abeln, SMIC, is a fellow member of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group. She wrote the following poem in 1965 and brought it to our group for critique at this month's meeting. Sr. Jane took the poem home, made a few changes and sent it to me to add to this Easter blog. It's very musical. Enjoy and be blessed!

  

          Victim’s Victory

            An Easter Song

The Sheep sleeps:

The meek Lamb who did not speak

before His shearers; Who without shout

under the rod of His branders was led

to His death ‘mid jeers of bystanders;

with only tears for the clotted crowd

and a cry as He felt abandoned

even by God. He sleeps now,

in peace, after the shock,

in the bed of the rock.

He is dead.

The weak Lamb, the meek Man,

meek and weak for love none can speak,

for people no Lamb but Love

could ransom and re-seek.

Bound around, wound in white,

found in the ground, the Light hid from sight.

while in the night, guards watch in fright,

minding the stone, tightly sealed,

for dread lest friends His Body steal

and then propound to all around:

“He is risen from the ground.

He is risen from the dead,

truly risen as He said.”

Then, on the first day of the week,

while still in sleep the people lay,

women came to seek the grave

and, with fragrance sweet, array

the Lamb weak, the Man meek—but

He was not there!

That same daybreak did He speak

to His Mother and to another with her name

when that Mary came to weep and pray.

His life of glory

He’d begun to share.

Redeemed People, Graced Race,

Hear and praise!

The Lamp is light with new fire bright,

Light of a New Day.

The Lamb leads the way

to keep the sheep in the sight

of His Father’s Face.

Crucified, died, from Whose spear-slit side

came streaming blood, a cleansing flood

to wipe away the pride of sin and win again

the sons and daughters of men

by the tides of saving grace.

The sleeping Sheep arises.

He leads the lambs to the land of brightness

where He stands at the Right Hand

of the Most High.

They hymn to Him, the Victim,

praise for so great a Victory,

by which He gained the glory

that sets women and men free.

“Lamb without stain, Who died in pain,

slain to save the race from Satan, pride, and shame:

To You we raise our acclaim of praise.

May You reign for ages of days!

All raise to the skies praise to You on high.

We cry: You rose alive!

Truly, truly, You are alive!

Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Sr. Jane Abeln, SMIC

Easter, 1965