Sharing the Peace Friday - Poetry.

Good and blessed Friday. As you may remember, each Friday and Saturday, we are “Sharing the Peace with our Blessings.” On these days, we will where we share with one another those things that give our life beauty and meaning. I ask that you post them on your social media site or forward them by email to people that you know to bring them blessings today. In the same way, we share the peace during Holy Eucharist, let us share the peace of the Lord in this way.

Today is sharing the written word. The theme for today is poetry. What are those poems that mean something to you? I have chosen 5 poems by three different poets.  

The first two poems are by William Blake. They are two out of the three pastoral poems in Songs of Innocence, the other being Spring. I love the imagery of a shepherd, and they remind me of the Good Shepherd and the love the shepherd has for the flock.

The Shepherd

How sweet is the Shepherds sweet lot,

From the morn to the evening he strays:

He shall follow his sheep all the day

And his tongue shall be filled with praise.

For he hears the lambs innocent call,

And he hears the ewes tender reply,

He is watchful while they are in peace,

For they know when their Shepherd is nigh.

The Lamb

Little Lamb who made thee 

         Dost thou know who made thee 

Gave thee life & bid thee feed. 

By the stream & o'er the mead; 

Gave thee clothing of delight, 

Softest clothing wooly bright; 

Gave thee such a tender voice, 

Making all the vales rejoice! 

         Little Lamb who made thee 

         Dost thou know who made thee 

         Little Lamb I'll tell thee, 

         Little Lamb I'll tell thee!

He is called by thy name, 

For he calls himself a Lamb: 

He is meek & he is mild, 

He became a little child: 

I a child & thou a lamb, 

We are called by his name. 

         Little Lamb God bless thee. 

         Little Lamb God bless thee.

The second poem is from the poet, who always provides resilience and inspiration. I could ready Maya Angelou throughout the day. Her verses describe life; our joy, seeking, pain, and hope. Touched by An Angel expresses love, and for me, the title is appropriate because love did come down, and love is implanted in our hearts by God. I was wrestling whether to post this one or “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

Touched by An Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

The final poems are from a poet who is dear to my heart. In fact, he is related to me. Sadly he passed away in the 1990s. The poet is Fray Angelico Chávez OFM.  He is an amazing renaissance man and is often unrecognized. In my home state of New Mexico, he has a statue near the plaza in Santa Fe, and the state historical library bears his name. Born in the early 1900s, Chávez was a priest, historian, author, poet, and painter and served as a chaplain during World War II. I selected a beautiful poem called Sermons in Stones. Take time to read it and the depth of its meaning. The second poem is for the Priests in the diocese.  

Sermons in Stones 

Into the rock my Lady went

When all the world no pity lent;

And in the stone she gave Him birth,

Who from the stone then blessed the earth.

Upon a rock she fondly laid Him,

And from the storms the rocks did save Him,

And all the stones in silence praised Him,

When into the rock she went.

Into the land of stones she went,

When Herod the heart of Rachel rent.

And near the stones of long-dead kings,

She hid the eternal Lord of Things.

To sleep on the rocks she sweetly lulled Him,

From desert sands the stones did shield Him;

All gentile rocks and stones extolled Him,

When into that land she went.

Back to the rocky hills she came,

When death the cruel king o’er came,

And there among the rocks He played,

And blessed the stones that He had made.

The brook’s smooth pebbles were marbles for Him,

The slates on the hillocks were tablets for Him,

The rocks and the stones were all friends to Him,

When back to the hills she came.

To the top of the rock my Saviour went,

By a cross His weary Body bent.

And on a carpet of solid stone,

They raised His painful and bloody Throne.

Those stones on the way had kissed and caressed Him,

That rock to the sight of all sinners did raise Him,

And the stones near the gibbet with pity did face Him,

When up to the rock He went.

Into the rock my Lady went,

With heart transfixed, by woe for spent.

Back to the stone she brought her Son,

From Whom the breath of life was gone.

Back on the stone she tearfully laid Him,

With mute consent the rock received Him,

From contact foul the stone preserved Him,

When into the rock she went.

Out of the rock my Saviour came,

Glorious, immortal, and free from shame.

His temple He built upon a stone,

To Peter, the Rock, he gave the Throne.

With heavenly power endowed by Him,

Daily on the stone the priest does lay Him,

And angels on stone kneel down and adore Him,

Since out of the rock He came.

Priesthood 

God drew me out of nothing

And held me in His Hand;

He draws me out of nothing

I hold Him in my hand!

Now, I invite you to share the peace with family, friends and neighbors.  Select a poem or verse of poetry that has great meaning and share that peace.  “The Peace of the Lord be with you always.”