We continue our Lenten meditations with stanzas 9 – 18 of George Herbert’s poem “The Sacrifice.” Note that many of the stanzas contain what some analysts have called a paradox. Opposites. For example, in the fourth stanza below: “I suffer binding, who have loosed their bands.”

(Bullets allow me to single-space the lines.)

• Arise, arise, they come.  Look how they run!
• Alas!  what haste they make to be undone!
• How with their lanterns do they seek the sun!
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• With clubs and staves they seek me, as a thief,
• Who am the Way and Truth, the true relief;
• Most true to those, who are my greatest grief:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Judas, dost thou betray me with a kiss?
• Canst thou find hell about my lips? and miss
• Of life, just at the gates of life and bliss?
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• See, they lay hold on me, not with the hands
• Of faith, but fury: yet at their commands
• I suffer binding, who have loosed their bands
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• All my Disciples flee; fear puts a bar
• Betwixt my friends and me.  They leave the star,
• That brought the wise men of the East from far.
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Then from one ruler to another bound
• They lead me; urging, that it was not sound
• What I taught: Comments would the test confound.
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• The Priest and rulers all false witness seek
• ’Gainst him, who seeks not life, but is the meek
• And ready Paschal Lamb of this great week:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Then they accuse me of great blasphemy,
• That I did thrust into the Deity,
• Who never thought that any robbery:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Some said, that I the Temple to the floor
• In three days razed, and raised as before.
• Why, he that built the world can do much more:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine?

• Then they condemn me all with that same breath,
• Which I do give them daily, unto death.
• Thus Adam my first breathing rendereth:
•                                               Was ever grief like mine? -“The Sacrifice” by George Herbert, stanzas 9 – 18.

“Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. (Matthew 26.46 – 50, ESV)

Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” (Matthew 26.59 – 61, ESV)