THE SEVEN LAST WORDS AND TWO MORE

"I give you my peace", said the one who told us:
"I come not to bring peace, but a sword";
the Son died in peace on the cross
and left us on earth enveloped in wars.

"I give you my peace", an inner peace,
a profound calm below the storm;
and this peace, dear Jesus, where can I find it?
Where can I hide the treasure of my love?

Jesus, the war you brought goes on,
and the peace you left us has been lost;
your peace, gentle rabbi, what good is it
now that for us you have closed serene Olympus?

"Father, forgive them for they know not
what they are doing, and trusting in you,
they keep on doing what they did before
you came, and they have become unhappy.

"Today you will be with me in my Father's
house", and His meaning has been confused
so that any criminal who dies thinks
he is following the path that leads to virtue.

"I am thirsty", and you arose to the fountain
of happiness, dear Jesus, but here on earth
we are dying of thirst, and in the muck
the water sent from heaven is full of mud.

"Woman here is your son; here is your mother",
was your admonishment to Mary and to John;
tell us where that leaves us; where is the Father
in whose image you saw yourself?

"My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
And why, Jesus, have you abandoned us?
See how we are left to go on aimlessly
like a flock of sheep without a shepherd.

"Into your hands I commit my spirit!"
and your respite was filled with glory,
but without it, down here we your brothers
fill our history with blood and tears.

"It is finished", was your cry as you died;
this is the way your work ended, Sublime Master;
today our voice is lost in the infinite;
and now, dear Jesus, who will redeem us?