After Matthew 2:1-12
For the Fourth Sunday of Advent
On my back tonight, in the dark tonight,
I am changed tonight by the simplest thing.
On the table, there’s a candle lit, just a fragile bit
Of light – but enough to see tonight, that it’s all holy.
Two others are snoring, their body-song soaring
From lips and lungs, nostrils and tongues,
Wild harmonies we make when we take trips
To see kings who like holy fools refuse to rule.
WE TRAVELED THIS WAY TOGETHER.
In the arms of Mary, the bronzed arms of Mary,
The baby king sleeps now, not a care in the world now;
And all this way from home, after all the trails we’ve roamed,
I know the quest is over, though our journey’s just begun.
We will love one another, honor earth like our Mother,
And bless every day with a song and a prayer.
We will turn from all violence, confessing our silence,
And look for sweet graces in the faces of our friends.
AND OUR ENEMIES TOO.
For the fierce hope in Mary’s eye, the breath of her baby’s sigh
Have awakened in our eastern souls a memory of a world
Made whole by mercy, justice, holy compassion;
We friends of God can fashion a communion of peace.
And this is the path, the way and our practice,
And lest anything distract us, it requires togetherness, we three;
Each keeping watch for the other, a sibling, a sister, a brother;
Living against the cultural grain, singing through the piercing rain.
AS WE LIVE TO LOVE.
But many are the forces that frighten us,
Curse us and worse; they take our faith and turn it
Into whimsy, just another flimsy future
We sacrifice outright to empire’s appetite.
And Herod waits for us now, he pines for us now,
Expecting our complicity, the pushover plasticity
Of courage compromised and cruelty justified,
Because it’s really the only game there is to play.
AND THE REAL WORLD WORKS THAT WAY.
But in a dream I see a voice, and it’s a choice:
Like a hawk in flight, rising high in this night.
It’s untethered, unfettered, untamed and unnamed
Like the god unconstrained who breathes
Life into lifelessness, and hope into hopelessness.
Rise up, says the One.
And leave Herod alone.
Wise up, says the One.
Choose another route home.
THERE’S ANOTHER ROUTE HOME.
One more time, we three kneel down,
One more time, before the child
Whose dark skin shines, whose eyes are wild
With love and wonder; and now a shudder
Says it’s time to go, to find that path—that new way home.
On this purple planet, in this golden desert, we travel now.
And Mary’s eyes peek out, wherever humans are about.
And in their company, there is always mystery and more to see
Than our hearts can possibly hold, but the baby’s made us bold.
AND WE TRY, O WE TRY.
So now the road is ours to share, we pilgrims are home everywhere.
And somewhere Herod storms and rages, but the pages
Of our lives will tell stories of a different kind of glory:
A hand that washes weary feet, and fingers breaking bread;
Love that lays down every fear, sowing seeds of peace instead.
Out here conversation is our communion, and imagination is
The cup that never dries, that always satisfies.
Out here every town’s a sanctuary, and every soul’s a visionary,
And every day’s a feast that fills our hearts with love.
AND THE KINGDOM IS COME, THE KINGDOM IS NOW.
WE THREE TOGETHER AND LOVE IS FOREVER,
AND, O HALLELUJAH, THE KINGDOM’S COME NOW.
