Tuesday, March 18, 2008

The start of Holy Week - The Via Dolorosa

Pastor Josh sang an absolutely haunting song, The Via Dolorosa, at the end of the Palm Sunday service. Here are the lyrics:
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Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
The Man condemned to die on Calvary.
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He was bleeding from a beating,
there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death.
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Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.
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Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem
Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus
Mas la gente se acercaba
Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz.
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Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via del dolor
Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Senor Y fue
El quien quiso ir por su amor por ti y por mi
Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir
The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men
Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem.
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Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King
But He chose to walk that road
out of His love for you and me
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.
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I think that it translates as The Way of Sorrow (Suffering?).
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I am annoyed at the false image that we so-called Progressives are somehow separated from God. And also at the hesitation of some to refrain from mentioning God, Christ, eternity or what-not, for fear of offending a Muslim/Jew/Buddhist/atheist/whatever. The First Amendment applies to us, too - a simple statement of faith is not pushing a religion on anyone, and it's neither establishing a religion nor "preventing the free exercise thereof."
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People, READ THE MEMO: WE ARE ALL IN THIS LIFE TOGETHER.
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Keep your powder dry. Pippa passes.
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R

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Roger, I saw your fine Senator Jay Rockefeller on CSPAN last night endorsing Obama. I thought of you but it was much too late to call you ... I hope you got a chance to see it.
...Is it possible that we may find ourselves for the first time in a very long time with mindful leadership in our White House? xox Sarai

Anonymous said...

You have Roger's phone number? No fair!!!!

Have a happy Easter, Roger. I consider myself progressive, and I am unabashedly a Christian.

Anonymous said...

we've had quite a few via dolorose -- let's hope for some happier paths.
with love,
:)
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