"This is the song of my sorrow"

An ancient chant from the Arab-Byzantine tradition for Good Friday. Sung in Arabic.

Two versions available for downloading from amazon.com :
1) Alyawm (Crucifixion) - from "Sacred Women" (track 1) by Sarband, featuring Fadia El-Hage
2) Al Yawm Ulliqa (The Lord is Suspended) - from "La Passion" by Sister Marie Keyrouz, Congrégation des Surs Basiliennes Chouérites

The lyrics are printed in their English translation in the CD jacket from version 1 above. They are as follows:

Today, He who had raised the earth from the waters was crucified on a piece of wood.
A crown of thorns was set upon the brow of the king of angels.
Draped in deceptive purple is He who can cast clouds in the sky.
Beaten is He who created Adam and baptized him in the Jordan River.
Nails are holding Him, the groom of the church, to the cross.
A lance is piercing Him, the Son of the Virgin.
We kneel down before Your pain, Messiah.
Let us also be witnesses to Your glorious resurrection.

God is Eternal and Infinite

There are many words in Hebrew that do not have an exact English equivalent. Some Hebrew words can mean many different things in English. For example, the word ___עוֹלָם___ (pronounced: nitzchiyut(?)) introduced in this chapter means both endless time (eternity) and endless space (universe). It can also mean world.

~Source: Prayerbook Hebrew the Easy Way (ISBN 0939144328)

The Pure Religion

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Aug. 30, 2009)
Reading II
James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

Dearest brothers and sisters:
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Psalm 15

LORD, Who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?

Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;
Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend;
Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD; Who keeps an oath despite the cost,
lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.

A Spiritual Communion

O Jesus, I turn toward the
holy tabernacle where you live
hidden for love of me.
I love you, O my God.
I cannot receive you in
Holy Communion.
Come nevertheless and visit
me with your grace.
Come spiritually into my heart.
Purify it. Sanctify it.
Render it like unto your own.
Amen.