When the Chief Priest
and those with him,
arrived and
called together the Sanhedrin
and all the Elders of the children of Israel,
they sent to the gaol
to bring them.
And when the officers arrived
they did not find them in the prison,
and they returned to report.
They said: ‘We found the prison locked, securely,
and the guards standing at the door
and opening them
we found nobody inside.’
When the captain of the temple guard
and the chief priests heard these words,
they were very confused about them
wondering what this would come to.
But someone arrived and announced to them:
‘Look, the men you put into prison,
are in the Temple,
standing,
and teaching the people!’
Then the captain went with the officers
to bring them in:
not with force
for they feared being stoned
by the people.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba