Father Francis Pott saw a vision in translation within the hymn “The strife is ore”. An  Anglican priest he took these anonymous words  written in 1695 and turned it to place modern day to the forefront in 1875, his translation from the Greek to astounding praise of  the resurrection perhaps foreseeing the difficulties ahead, this Easter is no less as our world is now in a health crisis, leaving us in 1907,  I wonder what his translation would be today   

 

Fr Potts translation see’s joy in the morning of  resurrection he contemplates the joy of   Mary & disciples as they greet a risen Lord happy  the prophecy has been fulfilled, but throughout the centuries the world has damped rejoicing by our  sultry behavior  

 

Since that glorious Easter morn they have been over 1000 wars, countless conflicts,  political and  religious  mischief now, this 2020 Easter is no less and I wonder what Fr Pott would have translated, but we believe he would have still written in in triumph   

“The strife is ore the battle done, 

the victory of life is won; 

the song of triumph has begun. 

 

The powers of death have done their worst, 

but Christ their legions hath dispersed,  

let shout of holy joy outburst” 

 

It grieves me that I cannot stand on the high altar and pulpit of the Cathedral  as I   have in the past, proclaiming  “He is risen”  my joy  tempered that this joyous day our church doors are locked and I am entombed to the surroundings of the Archdiocese,  and you, in you  in your homes, but we must not despair victory over death and the grave still stands firm, thus,  to all around the world especially our faithful ACW in the  USA, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, St-Bart’s, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, South-Sudan, Canada, United-Kingdom & Guyana  we cannot  venture out this early Easter  morning to sing Alleluia‘s BUT still we rejoice.

 

Our  pews are empty, BUT so is the grave where my compatriot Fr Pott & brother priest and  still finds room to give encouragement in his translation   

 

“The three sad days are quickly sped, 

he rises glorious from the dead:

all glory to our risen Head”

 

This Easter generations now and future will be remembered for its gravity  but we must hold fast, loosing negatives of all that attempt to  destroy us.  We cannot fully rely on the words of our politicians as  2020 unfolds, but faith in our Lord assures us that this too will pass, again Fr Pott gives us hope 

 

“He closed the yawning gates of hell, 

the bars from heaven's high portals fell; 

let hymns of praise his triumphs tell”! 

 

Wherever  you are in the world, let us obey the social-guidelines given us and render ourselves to prayer for herein comes our source of strength, from the  dangers that now rips on our doors, hear Fr Pott one last time 

 

“Lord! by the stripes which wounded thee, 

from death's dread sting thy servants free,

 that we may live and sing to thee. 

Alleluia”! Alleluia”! Alleluia”!

 

In this life  all will suffer, but our Lord rose and gives comfort, we worry  as the night  falls, but he assures us, don’t be afraid I  shall be with you till the end of time 

 

A blessed Easter to you all 

Ever faithful 

Hartley, Presiding Bishop ACW