Holy Week is the Week of Liberation. It is the week where man is set free from the bonds of Satan through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. It is a sad and somber week, yet behind the sadness, there breathes a collective sigh of relief from Man, and all of Creation. Liberavit Dominus is a hymn which is sung during the 2nd Nocturne of Holy Thursday. According to Tradition in Action, in this psalm, we are the poor and needy, and the mighty is a reference to Satan; this psalm reflects the sober joy experienced this week. The following is Liberavit Dominus in English:
The Lord has delivered the poor from the mighty;
And the needy who had no helper.
To the king give Thy judgment, O God;
And to the king’s son Thy justice.
The Lord has delivered the poor from the mighty;
And the needy who had no helper.
This week, we are delivered from Satan in an act which is an undeserved gift from God. Our appropriate response to this gift is gratitude, as G.K. Chesterton said, “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
May we never tire of the Cross, but remember it always as a fresh, and new, undeserved gift extended to us from the hands of a loving Father.
We frequently speak in our world of liberation.
The Cross is the true liberator.
•SCF
