12/18/16 Through 12/24/16
Sunday
The two in their humility
By faith, accepted roles to be
The parents of our great High Priest
Who saves the greatest and the least
He chose these docile ones to keep
A watchful eye upon this Sheep
Who shepherds them to God above
Two fruitful virgins bound in love.
Monday
The barren branches bear great fruits
In patient love's desire
To honor Him in their pursuits
He kindles holy fire
Tuesday
Heroes in the ancient story
Wanted fame, nor claimed the glory
Chose His will as their desire
And were then, baptized with fire
Mary's fiat, greatest yes
the source of grace and happiness
Suffered with her only Son
And through her, our salvation won.
Wednesday
The Bridegroom searches for His bride
He longs to hold her at His side
Through every window, door and crack
He peers to bring His lover back
He calls to me and bids arise
The flame of love, now in His eyes
So far above and fair is He
And yet He searches still for me.
Thursday
Take back Lord all you've given me
If I could find, but sanctity
As Abraham and Hannah too
Both found their joy in loving You
I look and then, I often find
The saints, the meek unselfish kind
Who offer back to You the gift
You gave, and then, their spirits lift
I look at Mary's faithful yes
The Son of God her awesome guest
By giving all her soul proclaim
The greatness of His holy name
So take, my Lord, all that You give
That in Your presence I may live
The saints found nothing they could save
But only that they freely gave.
Friday
The herald of the Holy One
Would turn the father toward his son
Refining fire and fuller's lye
Will cleanse the hearts and purify
The dross removed and shining bright
The gold and silver face the light
And give the faithful Lord His due
An offering of praise from you
In silence Zechariah stood
For trusting not, the Father's good
No longer would his voice be gone
When he proclaimed, "His name is John!"
Saturday
Blessed be the Lord, our God and King
The One of whom all praises sing
He's kept His promises of old
No more as slaves we're bought and sold.
In His compassion dawn shall break
In light of love, His people wake
The darkness and the shadows cease
He guides us in the way of peace.
Christmas 2016
Reflecting
on that holy night
When star
of Bethlehem, so bright
Shown down
upon the virgin birth
And God,
as man, had come to earth
I think of
all the stories told
Of
shepherds watching in the cold
Of wise
men from a land afar
Who
followed, faithfully, that star
Of
Joseph’s fear of pending doom
When at
the inn could find no room
His care
to do his very best
That they
might have a peaceful rest
Of angels
bending low to sing
Hosanna to
the newborn King
Of
swaddled child that gently lay
Within a
manger filled with hay
I wonder
if Isaiah knew
The Christ
would come, a simple Jew
If he
expected, Lord of all
To come as
one so weak and small?
We know he
saw the suffering
That speaking truth would surely bring
He saw Him
die a criminal
With many
unconvincible
And where
am I this Christmas night
Do I just
find Him stale and trite?
Or do I
share the shepherd’s awe
When in
the manger there they saw
The Savior
who is Christ the King
And wise
men with the gifts they bring
It’s only
humble ones who see
The Christ
who gave His life for me.
