by Ross Bentley
Sonnet of the Cross
What causes God to want to die for man?
What moves Him to such passionate display?
That Christ Himself would orchestrate this plan?
That He'd endure the darkness of this day?
And who are we to warrant this kind grace?
Why should He show us any love at all?
Humanity who just spit in his face
His lowly creatures suddenly so tall
They stand o'er Him with clenched fists in rage
'Who hit you, Christ?!' they shout in mocking tones
And strike the whip across his bare rib cage
Thus ripping tender flesh off of His bones
With mad vengeance we nailed Him to that Tree
Incomparable Love's own destiny
Silent Saturday
A dark despair has overtaken me
I've lost all valid reason to go on
I'm in a place I thought I'd never be
I simply can't believe the Master's gone.
He talked of Kingdom turning over kings
I had such promise built up in my mind
I didn't understand so many things
And in a darkened haze they're left behind
We argued who was greater, who was best
We spoke of things with such an arrogance
We thought that we were better than the rest
He cautioned us to serve when giv'n the chance
He said he'd suffer and that trials would come
He warned us we were drawing near the end
That we who loved Him would deny and run
Betrayers kiss his cheek and call Him 'friend'
Oh run I did until I could no more
And crumbled weeping, gasping for a breath
I rose and made my way back to my Lord
And watched in horror Him succumb to death
I can't stop thinking 'bout the loaves and fish
And treasures lost and found and sons restored
Was all of this to dissipate like mist?
Just dashing all my trust, and nothing more?
This dark despair may be my only friend
As I consider what is left for me
Where once a way now only lies an end
Then hopeful joy now faithless misery
Hope Springs
Out of the darkest night this world has known
While souls resigned to sleep eternally
The seed of Life the Godhead previous sown
Has sprouted to a new reality
For Love had come to show a better way
And humbly Man's methods to defy
But soon enough His kindness we'd betray
And vi'lently demand Him crucified
He silently endured blasphemous calls
Man's blinding hatred swearing death's decree
He took upon Himself the sin of all
And bore those scars through death upon a tree
He plunged into Death's darkest catacombs
Securing for those gone a sweet release
And surfacing from far beneath the tombs
His pierced hand was clutching Hades' keys
The Son dispels all shadows on this morn
Where once we cowered in mortality
And Darkness' grip is vanquished by the Dawn
And Death is swallowed up in victory