The good Reverend offered these poems as a Christmas gift to be shared.
Rev. James E. Laurence original post here: https://mypastoralponderings.com/2020/12/21/he-did-not-wait-till-the-word-was-ready/
Devotional Poems: “The Risk of Birth, Christmas 1973” and “First Coming”
by Madeleine L’Engle
The Risk of Birth, Christmas 1973
This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out & the sun burns late.
That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honour & truth were trampled by scorn–
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.
When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by a comet the sky is torn–
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.
First Coming
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace
He came when the Heavens were unsteady and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great. He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine.
He did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. To a world like ours, of anguished shame He came, and his Light would not go out.
He 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,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Deacon Gerry Palermo 