Paschal Candles

Artwork by Dorothy Woodward rsj

The words of the well known hymn
“Now the Green Blade Rises”
capture the sadness and grief,
the light and the hope
of the Paschal Mystery.
Already in 2011, we have experienced this Paschal Mystery
played out in the lives of our sisters and brothers
who have been so tragically affected
by floods, fires and cyclones.
The hymn and the design for this year’s Paschal Candle
proclaim the great Easter message that
darkness will give way to light, sadness to joy.
As we stand together in this time of national grief,
we hold on to the HOPE
that the GREEN BLADE will indeed RISE again
in our hearts, our homes and our land.

Now the Green Blade Rises
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that He'd never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.

Words: John Crum, 1928. Music: 15th Century French melody.