Good Friday 2025

Dear friends, 

On this day I do not have a lot of words to share. As Christ's death approaches, we are drawn to silence and contemplation as we reimagine those events on Good Friday. 
And so, I share only a piece of music. The opening chorus of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, to be specific.
I have read recently that “Bach went to considerable trouble in his old age to repair the large manuscript score of the St. Matthew Passion.
This presentation-quality copy, still in existence today, is unique among Bach manuscripts: he designed it beautifully, painstakingly bound and re-sewed it by hand, and carefully highlighted the biblical words in red ink.” 
To listen to this opening chorus and to see the manuscript score, please follow this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVPUpyvdO1g


Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen,
Sehet! – Wen? – den Bräutigam!
Seht ihn! – Wie? – als wie ein Lamm.
Sehet! – Was? – seht die Geduld,
Seht! – Wohin? – auf unsre Schuld.
Sehet ihn aus Lieb und Huld
Holz zum Kreuze selber tragen.
O Lamm Gottes unschuldig,
Am Stamm des Kreuzes geschlachtet,
Allzeit erfunden geduldig,
Wiewohl du warest verachtet.
All Sünd hast du getragen,
Sonst müßten wir verzagen.
Erbarm dich unser, o Jesu.

Come, ye daughters, share my anguish.
See him! – Whom? – the Bridegroom!
See Him! – How? – A spotless Lamb.
See it! – What? – His innocence,
Look! – Look where? – At our offense.
Look on him, for love intense
On the cross content to languish.
O Lamb of God most holy!
Who on the cross didst suffer,
And patient still and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer;
Our sins by Thee were taken,
Or hope had us forsaken:
Have mercy on us, Jesus. 

Marius Louw