Holy Week · For all the Saints · Maundy Thursday · Maranatha · Freedom · Alive to Christ · Elizabeth
HOLY WEEK
As we enter the holiest of weeks
The cosmos beckons to draw near the stone
which bore the cross of death
and ultimately into the depth of the life of God.
Grace filled and beauty overwhelms.
Hosannas cry out as people gather.
Stories circle - family, love, friendship.
Only to find the sound of human sin
"Crucify, Crucify," is the litany sung
And turns the souls of those who surround
Jesus, he only meant to share the divine embrace
What is truth?
Truth is where one is led.
By grace and love
To search for foundations of our souls
We cry as well with arms outstretched.
As we enter the holiest of weeks
The cosmos beckons to draw near the stone
which bore the cross of death
and ultimately into the depth of the life of God.
© Ernesto R. Medina, 21 March 1997 (Palm Sunday)
FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Saints
Saints
Saints
All around us
Circling
Filling us
Loving us
Remembering us
Angels and Archangels
with the company of heaven
singing songs of praise
“Holy, holy, holy”
is the song which is sung
We remember today the saints
Blessed stories of lives which have past
Stories which have touched our heart
Our memories
Our souls
Blessed are the ones who struggled for peace
Blessed are the ones who hunger for God
Blessed are the ones pure in heart
For God will be seen
Blessed are the ones who held us tight
Blessed are the ones who shared the truth
Blessed are the ones who taught us to pray
For God has been seen
Saints
Saints
Saints
All around us
Circling
Filling us
Loving us
Remembering us
Peter and Paul
Mary and Teresa
Athanasius and Nicholas
Grandmother, Grandfather
Neighbor next door
A co-worker who prayed with us
A companion who held out a hand
Well known saints
Saints known only to us
Those we remember today
as Jesus asks us to remember
Bread and Wine
I am with you until the end of the age
I am with you to love
I am with you to serve
Remember
Remember
Saints
All around us
Circling
Filling us
Loving us
Remembering us
© Ernesto R. Medina, November 5, 2000
MAUNDY THURSDAY
A quiet evening
on the brink before the Passover
Jesus loved
Betrayal’s heart lurked
and yet we find that
Jesus loved
Simplicity in dignity
Jesus gathers all that he is
all that he witnessed
all that he sought
Simplicity in dignity
a servant’s role took he
the towel ready to wash
The sound of water pouring
Gentile intrusion into the basin
Perhaps added was a disciple’s tear
as Jesus loved
Surprise came to Peter
Lord, are you to wash my feet?
You will understand sometime
sometime you will understand
But now open yourself
But now allow yourself to be washed
I come only to serve
Jesus loved
Now learn the lesson taught
Now go and do as I have shown
Share the gift of service
and wash one another’s feet
No need to put on airs
No need to prove one’s worth
Simply offer to love
Simply offer to care
And so for a community of faith
gathered to remember
remember the example of the Savior
with a towel tied around himself
Who are we to serve?
Who are we to love?
Who are we to show the gift of life indeed?
The washing of our feet
It was a simple act
and yet we find a truth
which dares infect our hearts
God enters
Jesus enters
Spirit enters
Whole as we might be
as we discover purpose
and meaning
and life
Oh how good it is when
Jesus loves
To serve as Jesus served
To love as Jesus loved
To be as Jesus
It is a quiet evening
on the brink of God’s Friday
on the brink of death
and on the brink of life
Be open my friends to Jesus
Be open my friends to love
Be open my friends to the gift of Our Savior
with towel tied around himself
Simplicity in dignity
Jesus gathers all that he is
all that he witnessed
all that he sought
Simplicity in dignity
a servant’s role took he
the towel ready to wash
© Ernesto Medina, 12 April 2001
MARANATHA!
Come
Jesus come
Maranatha!
Searching we begin
Thirsty we discover
our souls to be...
Waiting!
Come
Jesus come
Maranatha!
Who is this Jesus
who claims to be all that is
the first and the last?
Who is this Jesus
we claim to be God from God
Light from Light?
I am thirsty
we are thirsty
together let us search
for love and truth
together let us search for Jesus.
Come Jesus come...
And when we find ourselves
before the one who is
who simply is
we may drink and find life
life which is whole
for it is life from the beginning
and is life beyond end
It is the life of Jesus
who came among us and said
COME - REMEMBER Remember me as you gather
Remember me when you cry
Remember me when you yearn to know love
God’s love...
REMEMBER
And now know that others search
that others thirst
that other souls wait.
And offer the one who is Alpha
offer the one who is Omega
offer the only truth which matters
offer Jesus the Christ.
Might we be like angels
from this city of angels
and give testimony of salvation
Come and drink the water...
of life
Come and see the gift for you
Come
Jesus
Maranatha!
© Ernesto R. Medina, 22 May 2001
FREEDOM
Freedom
Freedom
Confined within a large crowd
Jesus sought out freedom
Jesus had said:
I come to bring sight
I come to liberate
Announcing the presence of the divine
Abraham responded with his greatest procession
his dreams and hopes
with the sacrifice of his son.
God responded in turn by providing something more
something beyond
Mary responded with the procession of her innocence and honor
God responded with Emmanuel
Jesus responded with the procession of his life
Carrying his cross
Calling us to follow
God responded with true life
true honor
true dreams
What are our processions
which distract or detour?
Alcohol
non-mutual relationships
drugs
money
control
resentment
sex without dignity
envy
obsession
compulsion
negativity
Possessions which crowd us in
We seek freedom!
Do we live our lives as license plates
The one with the most toys wins?
Or do we live our lives as icons
Vulnerable
Open
Trusting God?
A faithful plan
prayer
community
love your neighbor as yourself
compassion
faithful to the gifts God has given
We are then disciples
Carrying our cross
We are then disciples
followers of Jesus
And so we sing
Freedom
Freedom
© Ernesto Medina, 9 September 2001
ALIVE TO CHRIST
Prelude
Truth
Tension
Baptism
1st Movement
What is it to be alive to God?
What is it to be open to the possibilities?
What is it to die and then find life anew?
What is it to be freed to Jesus?
Invited are we to release a clutch on power.
Invited are we to shun the all too ordinary obstacles.
Enter the Gospel zone - enter where hunger is so base
that the true gift of Jesus is received.
I have not come to bring peace - but a sword - a sword of justice - justice for you.
In the Gospel zone is fairness beyond our imagination.
In the Gospel zone the gifts of wisdom and prophesy are recognized.
With Gospel eyes, we see just how present God is right here.
Will you accept the invitation of your welcome into the Gospel zone?
2nd Movement
Won’t you even give a cup of cold water?
Is it so difficult to release your love of other and carry your cross of love?
It is NOT a peaceful Gospel - it is a Gospel which will reveal your truth.
We may even be set against our own self.
Won’t you even give a cup of cold water?
Is it that scary to realize that the control or the power cannot be ours?
What is the fear if we welcome?
What is the fear if we welcome?
3rd Movement
Do you hear the sound of water? Listen...
It is the sound of invitation. An offer...
A threshold, a gateway.
Dead to sin — alive to God.
Postlude
Water.
Life.
Welcome.
Would you like a cup of cold water?
© Ernesto Medina, June 2002
ELIZABETH
Dearest Daughter
Sweet gift from God in your birth
To bear the name of one so wise
Beautiful eyes, receive and give
Innocent baby - Life is yours
Quiet, shy, sounds the refrain
Yet creative begins to flow
Butterfly kisses, prayer and song
She would ponder - She would wonder
Now she seeks to find her voice
Adolescence crept up - surprise
Bright, loyal, courageous and free
What lies ahead? We do not know
Elizabeth play your stage
Fear not your love and compassion
Watch - Act - Be honest to yourself
World entire at your grasp.