The priests prescribe a sacrifice
that one man's death would well suffice,
the people's surety.
Their sordid charges heaped on Him,
contrived by tongues of lawless men,
the Innocent betray.
The Gracious One is shown disgrace,
they strike and spit upon His face
and lead Him to a tree.
But as the wormwood comes in view,
"Forgive, they know not what they do,"
is all His passioned plea.
A curse, He hangs upon the frame,
endures the scorn, derides the shame,
is spent, for them, for me.
sounding out the wonder
of Jesus' mercy for His enemies,
from Matt 26:59-67, Luke 23:34, John 11:50
& Lam 3:19
titled from "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"