MY SUFFERING JESUS

When we pull out "My Suffering Jesus" for Holy Week rehearsals, the mood in the choir loft always shifts. Jude Nnam has given us a piece that looks directly at the Passion without looking away. The melody is steady and somber, walking the congregation through the stations of the cross and asking us to sit with the heavy weight of Good Friday.

The verses do not soften the story. We sing of the soldiers mocking the Lord, the judgment of Pontius Pilate, and the deep, piercing grief of Mother Mary watching her Son. By the time we reach the chorus, the words feel like a very personal prayer of repentance. Singing this well means holding back; it requires a gentle, expressive tone so the raw sorrow of the lyrics can speak clearly to the church.