Exhaling

Eucharist = holocaust

It’s no doubt “bad form” to criticize my own poem before you even read it, but I have to confess that this is not my favorite in poetic terms. Imagine reading it out loud in front of our new bishop; it does not have a good rhythm for oral interpretation.

But the thoughts were still worth expressing so I published it anyway…

The New and Everlasting Covenant

You are always coming, veiling Yourself for us
In elements unworthy of the Godhead,
that we might look on You and live.
Remaining in Your changeless heaven has never been enough
For a King whose very essence is to give.

You once clothed Your glory in earth’s clay,
Hid infinite riches in abject poverty
and Your subjection of all things in meek submission;
Under cold cover of night brought forth the glorious break of day,
In brutal death brought Eden’s Promise to fruition.

But we were looking elsewhere, wanting more,
Even the friends You chose did not see clear;
believing they saw the gardener or a ghost,
Or a fisherman preparing breakfast on a familiar shore;
And we neglect to see You in the host.

Here, the unblemished Lamb, only light of Paradise,
Thrice-holy God, Victim King,
by every saint and angel now adored,
The gentle Way, inescapable Truth, the Wisdom of the wise,
Hidden in a form so easily ignored.

Untiring surge of Love, Lord of our sinful hearts,
The Shekinah, source of every grace,
here with us with compassionate restraint.
Not a relic, nor mere bread, but Your entire living Self to us impart,
And in silent ceaseless prayer You wait.

How can we then receive in Heaven
More than You offer us here on earth?
You give the whole of You without reserve;
As freely offered bond of love, You give new life to leaven
Without considering what we truly deserve.

Here You are closer to us than heat to fire
All the boundless God miraculously ours –
Your self-donation and Your mercy, Your holy Heart of peace,
Your longing to give Yourself exceeding our desire,
Perfect sacrifice offered without cease.

The burden of Your prayer in every place
The same as it has always been:
that all be one in You to the glory of the Father;
You draw us near to contemplate Your Eucharistic Face
And thus unite us, with You and with each other.

Will we wholly embrace the spirit of this Feast?
Allow the vibration of faith to move the will
to freely choose the utter fullness we profess?
Will we welcome the unwelcome and embrace the weak, the least,
Offer them their portion of this Bread we break and bless?

Can we drink from your cup, offer self as holocaust,
Freely pour our very lives out for each other,
making room within us for new wine?
Will we join our impoverished suffering to Your victorious cross,
And assent to be transformed in the Body we enshrine?

Fro here within us is the Kingdome of Your reign;
A reflection of Your life of Trinity
in which we now mutually abide
If we keep vigil, with lanterns we attentively sustain,
For the Bridegroom ever coming to His bride.

Rising Sun, Risen One, create all mankind anew,
In Your true Body build up the new City of God
and grant every soul rebirth,
Removing all that divides heart from heart and hearts from you,
Granting a foretaste of the New Heaven and New Earth.

“Behold, I am with you always.”