Readings

Isaiah 11.1-10 | Psalm 72.1-7 | Luke 10.21-24 |

Incarnation
by Denise Day Spencer, 1999

He stands,
poised on the brink of two worlds:
One, land of eternal day,
the other, earth of mire and clay.

Behind Him,
legions of heavenly host,
bright faces covered, praising,
all chanting, voices raising.

Before Him,
chaos yawning, swift and deep,
known, yet unknown. Fear unfurling,
death and darkness churning, swirling.

He turns.
One last look at golden glory.
The Three part; He is now One.
The Father’s voice says, "Go well, my Son."

He leaps
into the abyss.

His next memory will be a Mother's kiss.

Prayer

O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Tree of Jesse, school of Geertgen tot Sint Jans, c. 1500, Rijksmuseum.

"A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Isaiah 11:1