Deep and Great

Several years ago during a grief-filled Christmas season my friend Jen shared this poem with me. It’s by Madeleine L’Engle, one of my favorite authors, and the title is ‘First Coming.’ And it seems relevant this second Christmas of the pandemic, as we are particularly aware that our need is ‘deep and great.’ As we celebrate this week, may you be aware of Christ’s presence with you and may your heart sing with God’s joy.

First Coming

God did not wait till the world was ready,

till . . .nations were at peace.

God came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

 

God did not wait for the perfect time.

God came when the need was deep and great.

God dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine. God did not wait

 

till hearts were pure. In joy God came

to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame

God came, and God’s light would not go out.

 

God came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

 

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain,

God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!