Saturday of Holy Week

Saturday of Holy week-- that day between church on Good Friday and church on Ressurrection Sunday-- always epitomozes waiting for the day of salvation to me.

One of my favorite hymns of the season is "Ah, Holy Jesus" by Johann Heerman (1630), translated in the Yattendon Hymnal (1899) and found in the Trintiy Hymnal, #248. Add Johann Cruger's excellent chorale music (Hersliebster Jesu), and you have a fitting and moving meditation for every day...


Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus hath undone thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee.
I crucicifed thee.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered.
The slaved hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered
for man's atonement, while he nothing heedeth.
God interceedeth.

For me, kind Jesus, was thine incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation,
thy death of anguish, and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee
think on thy pity, and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.