FIRST EASTER

By Stephen R. Sywulka

Used by permission

The sun rose up out the mountain

red like a fountain

of lava

igniting the sky into embers

and flame;

It was day.

But the women who passed

--faithful few—

were oblivious to beauty,

their grief-blinded eyes

could see only

a glowering sky

with a cross looming high

where a man hung to die,

nailed foot and hand

to the blood-spattered frame,

Who had healed blind and lame.

How could they endure

to lose Master and friend

in this bitter end

to all that they’d loved,

hoped, and planned?

So they came,

with the aloes and myrrh,

To the tomb—

Saw the stone rolled away,

heard the bright angel say,

“He’s not here,

He is ris’n.”

When at last

understanding dawned,

Something of sunrise

ignited their hearts

into embers

and flame.

My dear friend and colleague, Steve, wrote this poem several years ago and I saved it, because it's so beautiful and because it expresses what we are celebrating this week - Jesus' death, burial and resurrection - God giving His all for our salvation. And He continues giving us His all!

¡Resucitó! ¡Resucitó! ¡Resucitó! ¡Resucitó!

¡Aleluia! ¡Aleluia! ¡Aleluia! ¡Aleluia!

That´s what we´ll be singing on Sunday. Jesus rose again! Hallelujah!