| Jesus: | A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. |
| Let us prepare for death The last turn on the coffin my brother, by living lid, the last tear that well today and remembering - saw the suffering, the white all that we seek and say shroud that covers the or do endures in the hearts leadened corpse cannot seal of those we know and the open palm nor leaves for the good of the bad bury a lasting love when a marking of our history. the final rites are done | |
| Evangelist: | Then said some of his disciples among themselves, |
| Disciples: | What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. |
| Evangelist: | Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, |
| Jesus: | Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. |
| If this were your final day You could, of course, look back on earth, whom would and lose this preciousness you love and why? How do through memories, recalling ephemeral you think your heart pleasures that made you sweat would beat if the heavens and scream, or like the common were really falling lot running wild in common and where would you find desperation, turn your back on an opened palm to hold faith and love and prayer. | |
| Evangelist: | Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven. |
| Jesus: | Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. |
| Evangelist: | Then Jesus went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples. |
| This was a night I needed you most. No song so beautiful can sing away this reservoir of emptiness, this vast anticipation of nothingness. Where have you gone on this night I needed you most? God alone does not disappoint. I need to learn this, love only from above can heal an open wound or release the longing to lose myself in you, but for now the vigil is mine. I await the night for you | |
| Evangelist: | Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, |
| Jesus: | Whom seek ye? |
| Chorus: | Jesus of Nazareth. |
| Jesus: | I am he. |
| Evangelist: | And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. Then asked he them again, |
| Jesus: | Whom seek ye? |
| Chorus: | Jesus of Nazareth. |
| Jesus: | I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: |
| Evangelist: | Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. |
| Jesus: | Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? |
| Evangelist: | Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, |
| Damsel: | Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? |
| Peter: | I am not. |
| Evangelist: | And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. |
| Jesus: | I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. |
| Evangelist: | One of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, |
| Officer: | Answerest thou the high priest so? |
| Jesus: | If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? |
| Evangelist: | Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. |
| Chorus: | Art not thou also one of his disciples? |
| Peter: | I am not. |
| Evangelist: | One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, |
| Servant: | Did not I see thee in the garden with him? |
| Evangelist: | Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. |
| If you should die in my arms tonight or find reasons the heart cannot tell to leave- abandon a nurtured love that suckles like a mother’s breast, my love would leave with you. Since it is true that rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, I have prepared for the storm impending, the wind without mercy, but this you must know above all - my love will not cease. | |
| Evangelist: | Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgement: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgement hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out unto them, |
| Pilate: | What accusation bring ye against this man? |
| Chorus: | If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. |
| Pilate: | Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. |
| Evangelist: | The Jews therefore said unto him, |
| Chorus: | It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: |
| Evangelist: | Then Pilate entered the judgement hall again, and called Jesus, |
| Pilate: | Art thou the King of the Jews? |
| Jesus: | Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? |
| Pilate: | Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? |
| Jesus: | My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. |
| Pilate: | Art thou a king then? |
| Jesus: | Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. |
| Pilate: | What is truth? |
| Evangelist: | He went out again unto the Jews, |
| Pilate: | I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? |
| Chorus: | Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. |
| Evangelist: | Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, |
| Chorus: | Hail, King of the Jews! |
| Evangelist: | and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, |
| Pilate: | Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. |
| Evangelist: | Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. |
| Pilate: | Behold the man! |
| Evangelist: | When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, |
| Chorus: | Crucify him, crucify him. |
| Pilate: | Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. |
| Chorus: | We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. |
| Evangelist;: | When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgement hall,. |
| Pilate: | Whence art thou? |
| Evangelist: | But Jesus gave him no answer. |
| Pilate: | Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? |
| Jesus: | Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. |
| Evangelist: | And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, |
| Chorus: | If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. |
| Evangelist: | When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: |
| Pilate: | Behold your King! |
| Chorus: | Away with him, away with him, crucify him. |
| Pilate: | Shall I crucify your King? |
| Chorus: | We have no king but Caesar. |
| Evangelist: | Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: |
| Travel lightly wherever you go, my dear. Whenever you feel the need of me come softly with gifts of openness, come softly before the altar of iridescent dreams and irrepressible hopes O if it were true that love is never-ending and death is not the foe on the last frontier- your gift is the gift eternal and I need never fear again the threat of hate or war or pain | |
| Evangelist: | They crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a
title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, |
| Chorus: | Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. |
| Pilate: | What I have written I have written. |
| Evangelist: | Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, |
| Chorus: | Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: |
| Evangelist: | Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, |
| Jesus: | Woman, behold thy son! |
| Evangelist: | Then saith he to the disciple, |
| Jesus: | Behold thy mother! |
| Evangelist: | And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, saith, |
| Jesus: | I thirst. |
| Evangelist: | Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, |
| Jesus: | It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. |
| Evangelist: | The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the
Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that
they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was
crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. After
this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he
might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. |
| It was for love I lived and for love I died, a battle more thunderous than the final nova. Some things were lost. Much more was gained. All that lay quiet in the coffin was transfigured. And though the body is numb and scorned with disease, and the sense of touch has crumbled to dust, love knows no death or speaks no pain nor rattles with the bones of an empty grave but is freed in eternity | |
| Jesus: | A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. |
Adapted from St. John’s Gospel by Robert Hugill
Interpolated Poems by Carl Cook, taken from
‘’The Tranquil Lake of Love’ published by Vega Press, © 1993 Carl Cook