The Shepherds’ Watch

The sky looms dark–and deeply dark as here beneath we sit– blots of shadow wrapped in night and only lighting when we rise and walk to see the flame. – The sheep will go where I will go and follow comically, brushing up against my leg, trusting that I know the way to lead them […]

The God of Elizabeth

While at His greatest work, His mercy stitching ancient words into reality, preparing the way age by age for the sunrise from on high, the salvation of His people, the hope of mankind— the LORD also lifted the life-grief of one barren woman whom He loved.

Ice Advisory

Ice advisory crackles on the radio frost and ice (not snow) but ice. The air tings sharp—like rigid glass— The clouds are porcelain, the breeze a wet snap snipping by promising the things that will never fall..till now? – Ice advisory. Tonight the wood-burn stove purrs as liquid flames turn brown to grey…and cold as […]

Let All Earthly Men Rejoice

Children of the earth rejoice and prostrate all your shame Raise as one your ransomed voice and kneel to God again. No longer let the darkness rule the souls His scars have saved; but lift on high the glorious jewel and stand and walk amazed – The earth is broad; and rich and warm The […]

Invincible

Make our hands weak, and we will be strong. Take all our goods, and we will be rich. Inflict pain on us, and we will be healed. Make us your slaves, and we will be free. Give us to death, and we will live. Our God is with us.

Christ, Our Lord, on Christmas Day

Christ, our lord, on Christmas Day, here in body dwelling, came, our God, to be a man came to pay our ransom – All the angels preach the news Heaven’s wrath is ending. A baby sleeps in stone and straw Glory in the Highest! – Born a peasant, owned a king by the magi-envoys. Payed […]

Adam’s Vigil

He sat at night beneath the darkened skies; if earth’s first man, its first in failing too. Regret, in shadows, closed him ‘round, and drew the salt and sorrow from his sinful eyes. E’en now he heard the echoes of her cries– Eve’s shuddered breaths– that wounded him and threw that past, and awful madness […]

Medieval Advent

The frost lies hardened on the frozen ground, the trees encased in glassy slips of ice. A lonely raven calls across the field of silent white. The air is fresh and hard. I stand outside among my fields and look down at the rows of dying, stubbled corn: the husks of harvest—gone until the spring. […]

Immanuel

Limitless, immense our God, creation’s great sustainer. Eternal light, the life of men, now lying in a manger. For cradled in a trough of stone, the Lord of Heaven cries while Shepherds crowd to see their king with wonder in their eyes. – REFRAIN Our holy Lord has come to earth, the endless war to […]

Indescribable

Formed in clouds before the storm: holy thunder signaling a strike of pure, celestial fire. Indefinable. Undeterrable. Precise. Unknowable. Precipitous perfection unhindered as the driving rain. – Formed inside a woman’s womb— wholly circled. Embryonic growth of pure, celestial life. Indescribable. Unrepeatable. Precise Theophany. Perpetual Personal unfolding God to every man. – Enthroned in […]