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Homily 541 | Good Friday
The chants sung during the veneration of the cross today remind us how bad things really are and why we can call this day good.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/bRSiXHEgnjA
The Reproaches
I
1 and 2 My people, what have I done to you?
Or how have I grieved you? Answer me!
1 Because I led you out of the land of Egypt,
you have prepared a Cross for your Savior.
1 Hagios o Theos,
2 Holy is God,
1 Hagios Ischyros,
2 Holy and Mighty,
1 Hagios Athanatos, eleison himas.
2 Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.
1 and 2 Because I led you out through the desert forty years
and fed you with manna and brought you into a land of plenty,
you have prepared a Cross for your Savior.
1 Hagios o Theos,
2 Holy is God,
1 Hagios Ischyros,
2 Holy and Mighty,
1 Hagios Athanatos, eleison himas.
2 Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.
1 and 2 What more should I have done for you and have not done?
Indeed, I planted you as my most beautiful chosen vine
and you have turned very bitter for me,
for in my thirst you gave me vinegar to drink
and with a lance you pierced your Savior’s side.
1 Hagios o Theos,
2 Holy is God,
1 Hagios Ischyros,
2 Holy and Mighty,
1 Hagios Athanatos, eleison himas.
2 Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us.
II
Cantors:
I scourged Egypt for your sake with its firstborn sons,
and you scourged me and handed me over.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people, what have I done to you?
Or how have I grieved you? Answer me!
Cantors:
I led you out from Egypt as Pharoah lay sunk in the Red Sea,
and you handed me over to the chief priests.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I opened up the sea before you,
and you opened my side with a lance.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
and you led me into Pilate’s palace.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I fed you with manna in the desert,
and on me you rained blows and lashes.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I gave you saving water from the rock to drink,
and for drink you gave me gall and vinegar.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I struck down for you the kings of the Canaanites,
and you struck my head with a reed.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I put in your hand a royal scepter,
and you put on my head a crown of thorns.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Cantors:
I exalted you with great power,
and you hung me on the scaffold of the Cross.
1 and 2 repeat:
My people …
Hymn
All:
Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
Never leaf or flower so rare.
Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,
Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:
Sing, my tongue, in exultation
Of our banner and device!
Make a solemn proclamation
Of a triumph and its price:
How the Savior of creation
Conquered by his sacrifice!
All:
Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:
For, when Adam first offended,
Eating that forbidden fruit,
Not all hopes of glory ended
With the serpent at the root:
Broken nature would be mended
By a second tree and shoot.
All:
Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,
Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:
Thus the tempter was outwitted
By a wisdom deeper still:
Remedy and ailment fitted,
Means to cure and means to kill;
That the world might be acquitted,
Christ would do his Father’s will.
All:
Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:
So the Father, out of pity
For our self-inflicted doom,
Sent him from the heavenly city
When the holy time had come:
He, the Son and the Almighty,
Took our flesh in Mary’s womb.
All:
Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,
Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:
Hear a tiny baby crying,
Founder of the seas and strands;
See his virgin Mother tying
Cloth around his feet and hands;
Find him in a manger lying
Tightly wrapped in swaddling-bands!
All:
Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:
So he came, the long-expected,
Not in glory, not to reign;
Only born to be rejected,
Choosing hunger, toil and pain,
Till the scaffold was erected
And the Paschal Lamb was slain.
All:
Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,
Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:
No disgrace was too abhorrent:
Nailed and mocked and parched he died;
Blood and water, double warrant,
Issue from his wounded side,
Washing in a mighty torrent
Earth and stars and oceantide.
All:
Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
Never leaf or flower so rare.
Cantors:
Lofty timber, smooth your roughness,
Flex your boughs for blossoming;
Let your fibers lose their toughness,
Gently let your tendrils cling;
Lay aside your native gruffness,
Clasp the body of your King!
All:
Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,
Sweet the burden that they bear!
Cantors:
Noblest tree of all created,
Richly jeweled and embossed:
Post by Lamb’s blood consecrated;
Spar that saves the tempest-tossed;
Scaffold-beam which, elevated,
Carries what the world has cost!
All:
Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,
Noble tree beyond compare!
Never was there such a scion,
Never leaf or flower so rare.
The following conclusion is never to be omitted:
All:
Wisdom, power, and adoration
To the blessed Trinity
For redemption and salvation
Through the Paschal Mystery,
Now, in every generation,
And for all eternity. Amen.