Thus Do You Fare, Lord Jesus?

I wrote the following poem my senior year in college to introduce an orchestral setting of J.S. Bach's "Thus Do You Fare Lord Jesus?" which is the musical theme of the St. Matthew Passion.  I had just started attending an Orthodox church (my first since returning from Russia in 1998) and was a serious inquirer, but not yet a catechumen.  I was received into the Church the following year.  The italicized portions are from the hymn O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High, attributed to Thomas A'Kempis.

It seems fitting to share it today.

Thus Do You Fare

We are the ones for whom Jesus died.

We are the thief at His side.

O Love, how deep, how broad, how high...

We are Simon, carrying the cross,

We are Peter, weeping with his loss.

Shun not suffering, shame or loss--

help us Lord, to bear our cross.

We are the disciples who ran away,

We are the soldiers who pierced His side,

We are the darkening of the day,

We are the ones for whom Jesus died.

Ah, Holy Jesus, how you have offended...

We are the crowd who mocked and jeered.

"Crucify Him!" We rudely sneered.

We are Judas, betraying with a kiss,

30 pieces of silver our only list.

For us, to evil power betrayed, scourged

mocked in purple robe arrayed, 

He bore the shameful cross and death...

We are the the nails in His hands and feet,

We watched the soldiers as they beat,

We wept at the foot of the cross,

For ours was the infinite loss.

For us gave up His dying breath...

"It is Finished!" Hear Him cry.

"IT IS FINISHED!"

Jesus died for you and I.

~2 March 2000

Italics from the hymn, O Love How Deep, How Broad, How High, by Thomas A'Kempis