It is a great many years since I first attended a performance of Bach’s St John Passion. Having just been part of a performance of the work I have been as moved this time as I was originally by one simple phrase from the final chorale: ‘And as in death’s repose I lie, watch o’er me with a Father’s eye, until the Resurrection.’
The capitalisation used in the Novello English / German score that I have quoted makes clear that we are speaking of God the Father, not just any father, from which we could infer, probably wrongly, that this is first a prayer of faith of the now crucified Christ. A study of the entire chorale makes clear that this is an expression of faith in the certainty of resurrection, made possible because of The Resurrection
Later today, no doubt some of you who read this will attend a service of Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday. At that service you may use the narrative of the Last Supper as it is summarised by Saint Paul; it you do, you will read, ‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’. (1 Corinthians 15:26).
Until the Resurrection, and until he comes summarise the point of what we do today and what we celebrate on Sunday. Today is about the promise of our salvation because of The Resurrection and simultaneously it is about feeding and sustaining us with more than physical food for the journey ahead and the time until the resurrection of all who have died in faith.
Take a moment to ponder the momentousness of this waiting and promising and hoping, all bound up in that phrase, ‘Until the Resurrection’.
That Prayer
O Jesus, when I come to die, let angels bear my soul on high to Abraham’s protection. And as in death’s repose I lie, watch o’er me with a Father’s eye, until the Resurrection. And when from death you waken me, let my unworthy eyes then see, with tears of joy, my soul’s reward; my Saviour and my risen Lord! O Jesus Christ, give ear to me, and let me praise Thee endlessly. Amen.