Sacrifice

As Jesus was led away to be crucified, he encountered some women of Jerusalem:

‘A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children…” (Luke 23:27-28)

In the following poem, Penny weaves together the grief of modern and biblical mothers in times of trouble and tragedy.

Massacre – Penny Birch

Emmanuel born,

given to save.

Hunted by tyrants,

the innocents slain

whilst they were sleeping.

Rachel is weeping.

A President made,

evil awakes.

Paranoid schemes;

he raises the stakes.

Cavalcade racing;

Mothers are praying.

The innocent man

in garden betrayed,

abandoned, alone,

his companions afraid.

A kiss was his greeting.

No-one was weeping.

Youths scan the sky,

firestorm raining;

they have little defence,

howitzers screaming.

Missiles are falling.

Mothers are calling.

To Calvary walking,

to that shameful tree.

Lamb to the slaughter

so we shall be free

by his loving and dying.

And oh how the mothers are crying

and crying.