DESOLATION

this day of emptiness
confusion and longing
his agony turned our own
no longer to hear his voice
feel his touch
follow his step
where has love gone?

he was our Life
our hope
our light
our answer
and now we are lost
who are we now?

my heart on fire with grief
who will console me
there are no words for this
my sorrow
to see him broken
bleeding
i cry my God
why have you forsaken me

this day
this Life without Him
i cannot bear
day of poverty
when i am nothing
i have nothing
filled with the emptiness
for I have seen all Love
and now he is gone

wrapped in his tomb
embraced in darkness
i have died with him
no light
no thought of life

WHY THIS CROSS?

why this cross
this ornament of human suffering
in comfort and complacency
it can seem quite out of place
yet let one moment of tragedy
need or desperation come and
this cross is no longer a foreign land
but a shelter and home
a passage of power
and transformation–
is it magic–some talisman-
so it would seem
as it is forged in gold
carved in wood and fashioned in beads
strung on necks and molded on rings
held up to recoiling vampires —

yet kneeling
silently
before the cross
I hear
the whispers
and struggle
of the world
as it wrestles with its horror
its daily news
of evil and death
cruelty and selfishness
politics and greed
ideological slaughter
and mass destruction
our grieving and loss
our starvation and calamities–
earths quake and worlds fall
within the cross

we are free to place our burden there
and leave as though it were some receptacle
some garbage pit or scapegoat

yet not for long
for His whispers
and movement and life
are too compelling

He calls
over and over
to visit
this strange
place of death
that leads to Life

entering the suffering
the solitude
the darkness
of his outstretched tomb
we answer his call
to pray
to trust
to stay
until wisdom
whispers
the promise
of new life

how
long is
our
suffering-

it is
a moment
of grace—

then there is
no time
at all
no need-
we are completed
resurrected
in His love

Holy Thursday
At the Table

you are the one he loved
gathered in you followed
gathered round you shared
reclined at table you heard His voice
felt His breath
shared His laughter
received His touch
holding onto every word
you will remember
His cup
His heart
His wine
His love
He is every meal your nourishment
every meal your sustenance
all the miles walked upon this earth in time
are changed within His hands
each step renewed with His sacred touch
worn upon your feet he cleansed
to serve
to heal
to love

you are the one He loved

Isaiah 50: 4-9; Psalm 69: 8-10; 21-22, 31-34; Matthew 26: 19-25

morning
after
morning
you open
our ears
that we
may hear you
do not
let us
be lead astray
or desert you
in time
of need
for you
have been
our help
in weakness
thirst and
broken-heartedness
living
and being
with you
we are revived
we sing
a song
of life
and praise
in you

How can we remain faithful?

Isaiah 49: 1-6; Psalm 71: 1-6; 15 and 17; John 13: 21-33, 36-38

you knew us
from our
mother’s womb
step by step
even as we
do not know
ourselves
betrayers
deniers
beloved
not standing
in our way
only standing
in Truth
a Glory of God
for all to see
a light
of salvation
to the nations
in you we take refuge
with this love
we sing

What does God see in you?

Isaiah 42: 1-7; Psalm 27: 1-14; John 12: 1-11

His breath
His Spirit
His light
within us
whom should
we fear?
no enemy
no war
no chaos
no death
can overwhelm
our steadfast
Spirit
in Him
we place
our trust
in Him
we are
raised up
in Him
we live
pouring out
all we have
in love

Of who or what are you afraid?
What do you pour out in love?

Isaiah 50:4-7;Ps. 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mark 14:1-15:47)

the moment
of forsaken
the void
of abandon
no God
to save
doubt
of all ages
empty arms
broken body
broken heart
every
thing
gone
wrong
our poverty
stretched taut
we cry
why
have you
forsaken me?

Have you felt the forsaken moment?
What is your poverty?
In what do you hope?

Ezekiel 37: 21-28; Jeremiah 31: 10-13; John 11: 45-56

gathered
into One
we enter
a covenant
of peace
and love
as we turn
from
our ignorance
leaving
behind
the politics
of this world
that would
destroy
and entering
a kingdom
where
justice
God’s love of all
reigns
in abundance
providing
all we need
for ourselves
and others
raised
from death
our mourning
is turned
to joy

Do His works inspire faith or harden your heart?
Do you fear his power?

Jeremiah 20: 10-13; Psalm 18: 2-7; John 10: 31-42

we bring
our distress
to you
you hear us
and answer us
with your
love and
strength
upholding us
as evil
surrounds us
we dare
to sing
and praise
your goodness

Does God hear you?
How does God answer?

Genesis 17: 3-9; Psalm 105: 4-9; John 8: 51-59

You say
“I Am”
and we
see you
Son of God
Son of All
and know
who we are
in you
and with you
fulfilling
God’s purpose
of love
all barriers
discarded
we find
our home
in you

What do you hear when you hear Jesus say, “I Am”?