Rejoice,
Heavy hearts;
Now delight:
Jesus,
Once dead,
Filled with life!
Hope;
From the valley,
Look upwards:
Risen
Is he,
Indeed!
And
he is
coming, again.
Come!
Lord Jesus,
Come.
Reflections on Easter Sunday.
Category: Poetry
Heart’s Refrain
"To live is Christ,
to die is gain."
—
God help make this
my heart's refrain.
*Ref. Philippians 1:21
Darkness, For Good
Death. "But he was pierced for our transgressions,
Despair. he was crushed for our iniquities;
Darkness. the punishment that brought us peace was
ON HIM,
Can this really be and by his wounds
For good? WE ARE HEALED."
-Isa. 53:5
Reflections on Good Friday. Ref. Isa. 53:5.
Maundy Thursday: Mystery
Teacher, Lord, Servant-King
Finite human, fully God
Gathered, with disciples
Unexpected example, washing feet
Confrontation of pride
Breaking bread, pouring wine
Confusion, protestations
Wholly (holy) Mystery
Foreshadowed sacrifice
Broken body, spilled blood
Costly atonement
Filthy hearts, washed clean
Once-alienated enemies
Like you, like me
Brought near the King
Again, Near
I am thankful to wake up
again,
With my loved ones
near.
Earthly Longing
Do I long enough
for a new heaven
and a new earth?
I was pretty in love
with our old world,
I'm realizing,
Before life
as we knew it
was suddenly
Stripped away.
Dream
At night I dream
of the world that was,
Only to wake in the morning
to remember:
The world that once was
is gone.
But still I hope
in the surety of Jesus,
His completed saving work
on the cross,
His Spirit’s ongoing presence
with us.
I cling to his promise
that, someday,
He will make all things right,
and new:
Better than any
dream.
Progression of Palms: Sunday, Friday, Sunday
Sunday, palms waving:
Hosanna! Hooray!
Exalted, long-awaited King.
Friday, palms pierced:
Death. Despair.
Upside-down Kingdom.
Sunday, pierced palms alive:
Resurrection hope!
Someday all will be made new.
Juxtaposition
The dawning of spring
Is heartbreakingly beautiful.
The juxtaposition
Of the hope and joy of new life
With the despair of pandemic.