Wednesday, November 19, 2014

ADVENT....A COLLECTION

ADVENT....


AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF POETRY CENTERING ON THE ADVENT SEASON










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COME LEVELER OF MOUNTAINS COME



COME STRAIGHTENER OF CROOKED WAYS


COME LION TAMER LAMB CARRIER COME



COME RISING SUN TO WARM OUR DAY




COME CONVERTER OF WEAPONS TO FARMWARE


COME BRINGER OF THE WINE AND THE WHEAT


COME FLOURISHING TREE OF JESSE


COME MAKE YOUR CREATION COMPLETE







COME GIVE A SIGN OH SILENT GOD



COME GIVE A SIGN WE TEMPT YOU STILL



SO SILENT GOD WE THOUGHT YOU DEAD



COME MARY'S CHILD WE LOVE YOU STILL






COME SILENT GOD WITH THUNDER VOICE


EARTH'S VALLEYS AND THE DESERT FILL


SPEAK GOD FOR IN YOUR SILENCE LONG


WE FEEL THAT WE ARE ORPHANS STILL






COME MARY'S CHILD LONG COMING COME


COME SMASHER OF THE YOKE AND ROD


COME CHILD AND LEAD US IN THE DANCE


COME FRIEND AND SPEAK...BE NOT SILENT GOD







COME LORD JESUS COME AGAIN


BRING THE WHEAT AND GENTLE RAIN



COME AGAIN





FRANK A VOLLMER



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.









I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD


I AGREE WITH THE ATHEISTS


I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE GOD


THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN EITHER






THE WHITE


BEARDED


MONARCH


WHO WILLY NILLY


INFLICTS PAIN







WHO IS DISINTERESTED


IN THE WORLD HE CREATED




I DON'T BELIEVE


IN THIS GOD




I BELIEVE IN A GOD


OF HOPE AND PROMISE





A GOD WHO SAYS







I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy,

create my people as pure delight.


I'll take joy in Jerusalem,

take delight in my people:


No more sounds of weeping in the city,

no cries of anguish;


No more babies dying in the cradle,

or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime;


One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal—

anything less will seem like a cheat.



They'll build houses

and move in.



They'll plant fields

and eat what they grow.



No more building a house

that some outsider takes over,



No more planting fields

that some enemy confiscates,



For my people will be as long-lived as trees,

my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.



They won't work and have nothing come of it,they won't have children snatched out from under them.




GOD HAS PROMISED

I BELIEVE IT

IT WILL BE SO




I BELIEVE


THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATUS QUO


IS AN IRRELIGIOUS ACT




A BETRAYAL


OF HIM


WHO GAVE US THE WORLD


TO CARE FOR




IS THE WORLD BETTER


FOR DIFFERENT CREEDS


WHERE IS THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING



SAVE ME FROM RELIGIOUS PEOPLE



WHO SING


PRAISE GOD


ALL THE DAY


AND DO NOTHING




IT'S A WONDER


THE ATHEIST'S FIRE


DOESN'T FLARE HIGHER


WE FEED IT SO MUCH FUEL




Before they call out, I'll answer.


Before they've finished speaking,

I'll have heard


Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow,

lion and ox eat straw from the same trough,


but snakes—they'll get a diet of dirt!



Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill

anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says God.




IN THIS ADVENT SEASON


COME AGAIN


LORD JESUS


COME AGAIN




LET THE MIRACLE



OF YOUR INCARNATION


INFUSE SOCIETY




AND LET THEIR BE


NO MORE KILLING


ON YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN





FRANK A VOLLMER




………………Immigrant (Matthew 25:35)...











The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).


“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35)...




SO QUICK HAD THEY LEFT


THE ANGEL HAD GIVEN THEM NO TIME


HEROD WOULD DIM HIS SMILE


FOREVER




QUICK

BE GONE




WHERE SHALL I FIND WORK


TO FEED AND CLOTHE


AND SHELTER MY FAMILY




I


A STRANGER


IN A STRANGE LAND







WHOSE WAYS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE



WHOSE GODS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE



WHOSE SPEECH IS DIFFERENT FROM MINE





I HAVE SKILLS



IF THEY'LL LET ME USE THEM


PERHAPS THE SHIPYARDS ON THE SUEZ


WILL HAVE WORK


BUT WHATEVER WORK IS THERE

I'LL DO




WILL PEOPLE LOOK ASKANCE AT OUR CLOTHES


WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PACK


WHAT WE'RE WEARING


IS WHAT WE HAVE





WE ARE TOLD TO WELCOME THE STRANGER


IN OUR MIDST


A RULE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL RELIGIONS







MAY GOD BE WITH ME IN THE NEW LAND




IF THINGS WE'RE BETTER AT HOME


I WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT


BUT THE CHOICE IS NOT MINE


IF THE CHILD SHOULD LIVE


AND BRING HIS SMILE


TO THE WORLD






FRANK A VOLLMER





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ADVENT IN AUSCHWITZ  (MATTHEW 25:45)








WHAT PASSING BELL

FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE CATTLE



SO SINGS THE POET WILFRED OWEN

OF SOLDIERS

KILLED

IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR



WHAT PASSING BELL

FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE CATTLE



WHAT PASSING BELL

FOR THOSE WHO DIED

AT AUSCHWITZ

BERGEN-BELSEN

TREBLINKA



NOT THE ONLY DISASTER

TO HAVE HAPPENED

BUT THIS HAPPENED

IN MY LIFETIME



TO PEOPLE

SOME OF WHOM

BORE MY LAST NAME



DID NOT MESSIAH

ROAM THESE CAMPS

CRYING

THIS IS NOT RELIGION

BUT

HATRED



EACH ONE WHO DIES

DIES AS CHRIST



EACH ONE WHO DIES

IS A LILY IN THE FIELD



BELOVED BY ITS MAKER





EACH ONE WHO IS SHOT

GASSED

STARVED

HUNG

BURNED

CRIES OUT

WHERE IS YOUR RELIGION



THE JEWS CRY FOR A MESSIAH



CHRISTIANS CRY FOR A MESSIAH



PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM NOT

CRY FOR A MESSIAH



BUT HE WILL NOT INTRUDE



HE MADE THE WORLD FOR US

GAVE US DOMINION



BECAUSE WE WOULD PREFER TO EAT THE FRUIT

HE GAVE US DOMINION



MAKE IT WORK



HE SAID

YOU WANTED DOMINION



MAKE IT WORK



I TREASURE

EVERY LILY IN THE FIELD



GARDENER

TEND YOUR FLOWERS






FRANK A VOLLMER

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SOLILOQUY - O COME EMMANUEL












O COME O COME EMMANUEL

TO MY LONELY BED

WHERE THE HOURS GO SLOWLY

AND SLEEP ESCAPES ME

COME EMMANUEL

COME EMMANUEL

COME DAY STAR

AND HELP ME FIND MORNING



COME

ROD OF JESSE COME

AND GIVE ME VICTORY OVER THE GRAVE

FOR DEATH AND I

HAVE BECOME FRIENDS



COME O COME O MIGHTY GOD

WHO DWELT ONCE ON HIGH

WHO DWELT ONCE AMONG US

WHO DWELLS NOW WITHIN US

COME



COME GOD OF FORGIVENESS

AND OF PEACE

LET YOUR WAYS BE MINE



COME O COME

DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS COME

COME AS SLEEP COMES TO MY EYES

COME

AS I LET YOU RULE YOUR WORLD

COME



AND GIVE ME REST



FRANK A VOLLMER



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LOVE HAS COME AGAIN










NOW AT THE DARKEST PART OF THE YEAR

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF WINTER

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

ODD THE SUN IS SO CLOSE TO THE EARTH IN WINTER

SO THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD BE A SLIVER THAT QUICKLY PASSES

BUT LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

LIKE WHEAT THAT SPRINGETH GREEN

IT NEEDED DARKNESS TO BEGIN

FROM THIS POINT ON THE SUN GROWS STRONGER

ODD THE DAY SHOULD BE THE WARMEST

WHEN THE SUN IS FAR AWAY

BUT IN THE VERY DEAD OF WINTER

WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

WHEN NIGHT AND COLD HAS COME TO FREEZE US IN PLACE

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN

LOVE HAS COME AGAIN



LOVE HAS COME AGAIN








FRANK A VOLLMER

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WHERE IS MESSIAH  (Isaiah 53:3)














IN POLAND

IN WARSAW

IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY

IN ONE OF THE TOMBS

A WOMAN GAVE BIRTH



HER ONLY ATTENDANT

THE CARETAKER

WHO WAS HIDING TOO



HE SAID



PERHAPS THIS ONE IS THE MESSIAH

BORN SO LOWLY

DESPISED

AND SPIT UPON



PERHAPS HE IS THE MESSIAH



THE CHRISTIAN MESSIAH

HAS BROUGHT US NO PEACE



BUT HE WATCHED HIS DREAM FADE

AS THE CHILD

SUCKED ON HIS MOTHER’S TEARS



HER BREASTS WERE DRY



THE CHILD

SUCKED ON HIS MOTHER’S TEARS

AND DIED



EVENTUALLY

THEY WERE FOUND

AND WENT UP IN SMOKE



THE NEARBY VILLAGERS

SMELLED THE SMOKE

AND KNEW WHAT IT WAS





THEIR HOMES STANK OF IT



THEY CALLED IT

       JEWISH PERFUME



IN A WORLD

STILL PLAGUED

BY WAR

HUNGER

AND HATRED



CAN WE NOT SAY





WHERE IS MESSIAH

WHERE IS MESSIAH



FRANK A VOLLMER




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POETRY BY ISAIAH




ISAIAH   (Isaiah 11:1)


 A SHOOT
 SHALL COME OUT
 FROM THE STUMP OF JESSE,
AND A BRANCH
SHALL GROW OUT OF HIS ROOTS

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
SHALL REST ON HIM,

THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM
 AND UNDERSTANDING,

THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL
AND MIGHT,

THE SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE
AND THE FEAR OF THE LORD

 HIS DELIGHT

SHALL BE IN THE FEAR
 OF THE LORD

 HE SHALL NOT JUDGE
 BY WHAT HIS EYES SEE,
OR DECIDE BY WHAT HIS EARS HEAR;

 BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
HE SHALL JUDGE THE POOR,
 AND DECIDE WITH EQUITY
 FOR THE MEEK OF THE EARTH;


 HE SHALL STRIKE THE EARTH
 WITH THE ROD OF HIS MOUTH,

AND WITH THE BREATH OF HIS LIPS
 HE SHALL KILL THE WICKED.


 RIGHTEOUSNESS
 SHALL BE THE BELT AROUND HIS WAIST,

AND FAITHFULNESS
THE BELT AROUND HIS LOINS

 THE WOLF
 SHALL LIVE WITH THE LAMB,

THE LEOPARD
SHALL LIE DOWN WITH THE KID,

 THE CALF
 AND THE LION
AND THE FATLING TOGETHER,

AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.

 THE COW AND THE BEAR
SHALL GRAZE,

 THEIR YOUNG SHALL LIE DOWN TOGETHER;
AND THE LION SHALL EAT STRAW LIKE THE OX.

 THE NURSING CHILD
SHALL PLAY OVER THE HOLE
OF THE ASP,


 AND THE WEANED CHILD
SHALL PUT ITS HAND
ON THE ADDER'S DEN

 THEY WILL NOT HURT
OR DESTROY
ON ALL MY HOLY MOUNTAIN;

FOR THE EARTH WILL BE FULL
OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD
AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA

ON THAT DAY
 THE ROOT OF JESSE
SHALL STAND
AS A SIGNAL TO THE PEOPLES;

THE NATIONS
 SHALL INQUIRE OF HIM,

AND HIS DWELLING
SHALL BE GLORIOUS

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POETRY BY ISAIAH


ISAIAH  (Isaiah 35:1)


 THE WILDERNESS
AND THE DRY LAND
 SHALL BE GLAD,

 THE DESERT SHALL REJOICE
AND BLOSSOM;

LIKE THE CROCUS
 IT SHALL BLOSSOM ABUNDANTLY,

AND REJOICE WITH JOY
AND SINGING.

THE GLORY OF LEBANON
SHALL BE GIVEN TO IT,

THE MAJESTY OF CARMEL
AND SHARON.

THEY SHALL SEE THE GLORY
OF THE LORD,
THE MAJESTY OF OUR GOD.

 STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS,
AND MAKE FIRM
 THE FEELE KNEES.
 THE BURNING SAND
SHALL BECOME A POOL,
AND THE THIRSTY GROUND
SPRINGS OF WATER;

THE HAUNT OF JACKALS
 SHALL BECOME A SWAMP,

THE GRASS
SHALL BECOME REEDS AND RUSHES

 A HIGHWAY
SHALL BE THERE,

AND IT SHALL BE CALLED
THE HOLY WAY;

THE UNCLEAN
 SHALL NOT TRAVEL ON IT
BUT IT SHALL BE FOR GOD'S PEOPLE;

 NO TRAVELER,
 NOT EVEN FOOLS,
 SHALL GO ASTRAY

 NO LION
 SHALL BE THERE,

NOR SHALL ANY RAVENOUS BEAST
 COME UP ON IT;

THEY SHALL NOT BE FOUND THERE,
BUT THE REDEEMED SHALL WALK THERE.

 AND THE RANSOMED
OF THE LORD
SHALL RETURN,
AND COME TO ZION
 WITH SINGING;


EVERLASTING JOY
SHALL BE UPON THEIR HEADS;
 THEY SHALL OBTAIN JOY
AND GLADNESS,
AND SORROW
AND SIGHING

 SHALL FLEE AWAY


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POETRY BY ISAIAH



ISAIAH  (Isaiah 64:1)


 O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS
 AND COME DOWN,

SO THAT THE MOUNTAINS
 WOULD QUAKE AT YOUR PRESENCE--

 AS WHEN FIRE KINDLES BRUSHWOOD
AND THE FIRE CAUSES WATER TO BOIL—

TO MAKE YOUR NAME KNOWN
TO YOUR ADVERSARIES,

SO THAT THE NATIONS MIGHT TREMBLE
 AT YOUR PRESENCE!

 WHEN YOU DID AWESOME DEEDS
THAT WE DID NOT EXPECT,

YOU CAME DOWN,
THE MOUNTAINS QUAKED
 AT YOUR PRESENCE
 FROM AGES PAST
 NO ONE HAS HEARD,
 NO EAR HAS PERCEIVED,
NO EYE HAS SEEN
 ANY GOD BESIDES YOU,

WHO WORKS FOR THOSE
WHO WAIT FOR HIM

 YOU MEET THOSE
WHO GLADLY DO RIGHT,

THOSE WHO REMEMBER YOU
IN YOUR WAYS

BUT YOU WERE ANGRY
AND WE SINNED;
 BECAUSE YOU HID YOURSELF
 WE TRANSGRESSED.

 WE HAVE ALL
 BECOME LIKE ONE WHO IS UNCLEAN,

AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUS DEEDS
ARE LIKE A FILTHY CLOTH.

WE ALL FADE LIKE A LEAF
AND OUR INIQUITIES
LIKE THE WIND
TAKE US AWAY.

 THERE IS NO ONE
WHO CALLS ON YOUR NAME,
 OR ATTEMPTS TO TAKE HOLD OF YOU;

FOR YOU HAVE HIDDEN
YOUR FACE FROM US,
 AND HAVE DELIVERED US
 INTO THE HAND OF OUR INIQUITY

 YET, O LORD,
YOU ARE OUR FATHER;

WE ARE THE CLAY,
AND YOU ARE OUR POTTER;
WE ARE ALL THE WORK OF YOUR HAND.

 DO NOT
 BE EXCEEDINGLY ANGRY, O LORD,

AND DO NOT REMEMBER
 INIQUITY FOREVER.

NOW CONSIDER
 WE ARE ALL YOUR PEOPLE. 
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POETRY BY ISAIAH



ISAIAH   (Isaiah 40:1)


 COMFORT,
 O COMFORT MY PEOPLE,
 SAYS YOUR GOD

 SPEAK TENDERLY
TO JERUSALEM
 AND CRY TO HER
THAT SHE HAS SERVED HER TERM,
THAT HER PENALTY IS PAID,

THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED
FROM THE LORD'S HAND
 DOUBLE FOR ALL HER SINS.

 A VOICE CRIES OUT
IN THE WILDERNESS
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD,

MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT
 A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

 EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE LIFTED UP,
 AND EVERY MOUNTAIN
AND HILL
BE MADE LOW;

 THE UNEVEN GROUND
 SHALL BECOME LEVEL,
 AND THE ROUGH PLACES A PLAIN.

 THEN THE GLORY
 OF THE LORD
SHALL BE REVEALED,

AND ALL PEOPLE
SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER,

 FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD
 HAS SPOKEN."

 A VOICE SAYS,
"CRY OUT!"

 AND I SAID, "
WHAT SHALL I CRY?"

ALL PEOPLE ARE GRASS,
THEIR CONSTANCY
 IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF THE FIELD.

 THE GRASS WITHERS,
THE FLOWER FADES,
WHEN THE BREATH OF THE LORD
BLOWS UPON IT;

 SURELY THE PEOPLE ARE GRASS
 THE GRASS WITHERS,
THE FLOWER FADES;

 BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD
WILL STAND FOREVER

 GET YOU UP TO A HIGH MOUNTAIN,
 O ZION,
 HERALD OF GOOD TIDINGS;

 LIFT UP YOUR VOICE
WITH STRENGTH,
O JERUSALEM,
 HERALD OF GOOD TIDINGS,

 LIFT IT UP,
 DO NOT FEAR;

SAY TO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, "
HERE IS YOUR GOD!"

 SEE,
 THE LORD GOD COMES
WITH MIGHT,
 AND HIS ARM RULES FOR HIM;

 HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM,
AND HIS RECOMPENSE BEFORE HIM

 HE WILL FEED HIS FLOCK
 LIKE A SHEPHERD;

HE WILL GATHER THE LAMBS
IN HIS ARMS,
AND CARRY THEM
 IN HIS BOSOM,
AND GENTLY LEAD
 THE MOTHER SHEEP

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ISAIAH 1






NOT A STUMP

A BRANCH SHALL COME
FROM THE TRUNK OF JESSE’S FAMILY TREE

IT WILL BE CALLED
WISE

UNDERSTANDING

CONSOLING 

MIGHTY
PRINCE OF PEACE

A BETTER IMAGE THAN STUMP
OF FORESTS DENUDED
AS THE ASSYRIANS DID
TO THE LAND AROUND JERUSALEM

BUT THE PROMISES OF GOD
WEREN’T IN THE FORESTS OR THE CITY

THE SON OF DAVID WOULD COME
THE LINEAGE OF DAVID

WOULD PROGRESS
FATHER TO SON
UNTIL FULFILLED IN CHRIST
NOT A STUMP
BUT A TREE WOULD SURVIVE

NOT A WASTELAND
BUT A LAND RESEEDED
BY THE MOTHER TREE
NOT A WASTELAND
BUT A TREE
WHERE THOSE WHO WERE SCATTERED
LIKE FRIGHTENED BIRDS
COULD COME BACK
AND FIND REFUGE

THE PROMISE
THE LINEAGE
WOULD COME TRUE

THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL
ONCE MORE BEARS FRUIT
AND WE ARE ASKED TO PARTAKE

THIS IS MY BODY
MY BLOOD
COME AND BE PART OF ME

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 In Such an Hour


 Sometimes, when everything goes
wrong:
When days are short, and nights are long;
When wash-day brings so dull a sky
That not a single thing will dry.
And when the kitchen chimney smokes,
And when there's naught so "queer" as
folks!
When friends deplore my faded youth,
And when the baby cuts a tooth.
While John, the baby last but one,
Clings round my skirts till day is done;
When fat, good-tempered Jane is glum,
And butcher's man forgets to come.

Sometimes, I say, on days like these,
I get a sudden gleam of bliss.
"Not on some sunny day of ease,
He'll come . . but on a day like this!"
And, in the twinkling of an eye,
These tiresome things will all go by!

And, 'tis a curious thing, but Jane
Is sure, just then, to smile again;
Or, out the truant sun will peep,
And both the babies fall asleep.
The fire burns up with roar sublime,
And butcher's man is just in time.
And oh! My feeble faith grows strong
Sometimes, when everything goes wrong!




Fay Inchfawn
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.
When He Comes


 "When He comes!
My sweetest 'When'!"
C. ROSSETTI.

Thus may it be (I thought) at some
day's close,
Some lilac-haunted eve, when every rose
Breathes forth its incense. May He find
me there,
In holy leisure, lifting hands of prayer,
In some sweet garden place,
To catch the first dear wonder of His Face!

Or, in my room above,
In silent meditation of His love,
My soul illumined with a rapture rare.
It would be sweet, if even then, these eyes
Might glimpse Him coming in the East-
ern skies,
And be caught up to meet Him in the
air.

But now! Ah, now, the days
Rush by their hurrying ways!
No longer know I vague imaginings,
For every hour has wings.
Yet my heart watches . . . as I work I
say,
All simply, to Him: "Come! And if to-day,
Then wilt Thou find me thus: just as I
am --
Tending my household; stirring goose-
berry jam;
Or swiftly rinsing tiny vests and hose,
With puzzled forehead patching some one's
clothes;
Guiding small footsteps, swift to hear, and
run,
From early dawn till setting of the sun."

And whensoe'er He comes, I'll rise and go,
Yes, all the gladlier that He found me so.
FAY INCHFAUN

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.Meanings of Christmas




   "It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God—the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people—kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people—no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…"

Fr. Andrew Greeley



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I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!


Longfellow



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Of the Father's Love Begotten

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!


Prudentius (348–413)
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BLEAK MIDWINTER

 

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk,
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air -
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him -
Give my heart.I

Christina Rossetti


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