the great Reversal...

Mel and I will be at our home church in Virginia this Easter weekend. Here's a hymn we first heard at that church...lyrics by Fred Green, to a Vaughan Williams arrangement of a Thomas Tallis tune. It gets me every time: the great Victory, won by losing.

To mock your reign, O dearest Lord,they made a crown of thorns;
set you with taunts along that road from which no one returns.
They could not know as we do now, that glorious is your crown;
that thorns would flower upon your brow, your sorrows heal our own.

In mock acclaim, O gracious Lord,they snatched a purple cloak,
your passion turned, for all they cared,into a soldier's joke.
They could not know, as we do now, that though we merit blame
you will your robe of mercy throw around our naked shame.

A sceptered reed, O patient Lord, they thrust into your hand,
and acted out their grim charade to its appointed end.
They could not know, as we do now, though empires rise and fall,
your Kingdom shall not cease to grow till love embraces all.