January
2010 - Vol. 36
.
Journey
by Starlight
Poem for the Feast
of Epiphany
by Jeanne Kun
A star rises in the silence of the
night
and shatters the deep darkness of
my heart's
loneliness and longing.
A star breaks away from the lowly
horizon
and climbs into the heights
where its brightness sings forth
in glory
and in hope.
A star's shining song fills the dawn
and wakes my dull and sleeping spirit
and my blind eyes
with new light.
Set out upon the way, my soul, set
out upon
the way.
A Savior has been born for you.
Make haste and go and find him.
The journeying is long.
The way lies through wasted desert
land,
yet grace is in the very seeking.
With each step the star's light
burns deeper into my heart
and fills me with its searing brightness
till all of me is aglow with its
fire.
With each step my burdens and my
poor,
shoddy riches
are laid down by the wayside
as I press on toward the new life
awaiting me
and approach with heart and hands
open wide to its embrace.
Yes, grace lies upon the edges of
this long journey, and time to prepare the heart.
The star leads onward to the Truth,
clothed not in the guise of kingly
might
and splendor
but in the frail, naked flesh of
a newborn babe
wrapped in swaddling bands and lying
in a manger
where God shares our poverty and
weakness,
made like us in all but sin.
Look deeper as the star's light shines
upon this Truth and dispels the gloomy darkness.
Sink down and kneel.
Bow low before his presence there
upon the hay.
Lay down your crown, O soul, alongside
the
wise men's there.
Lay down your pomp and power,
your privileges and pride and presumptions,
your own rights and righteousness.
Offer there your treasures at the
manger:
Desire and dream purified to finest
gold,
hopes and prayers raised and sacrificed
as fragrant frankincense,
griefs and pains and disappointments
anointed
and laid to rest with myrrh's balm.
Let the Child take these poor treasures
in hand
to make of them his playthings,
there to see the pleasure he takes
in them,
there to await what he will make
of them for you,
Far better than your own doing.
And having offered my heart's gifts
and done him homage in silent adoration,
now I return to my own land.
But the star's light is my companion
and burns steadily within,
warming my stony coldness,
enlightening my vision,
and guiding my steps along the pilgrim's
way
till I meet this Child again,
then throned and robed in full majesty
and royal splendor at his Father's side.
Copyright (c) 2006 by Jeanne Kun
Used with permission of author.
Jeanne
Kun is president of Bethany
Association and a senior womens' leader in the Word
of Life Community, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. |
Your
Light Has Come
Journey
of the Wise Men, Matthew 2:1-2,9-12
Now
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where
is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in
the East, and have come to worship him. ...and lo, the star which they
had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place
where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly
with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his
mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures,
they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being
warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country
by another way.
Prophecy
of Isaiah, Chapter 60
Arise,
shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD
has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick
darkness the peoples; but the LORD
will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall
come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up
your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to
you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried
in the arms. Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill
and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to
you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels
shall cover you, the young camels of Mid'ian and Ephah; all those
from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall
proclaim the praise of the LORD.
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebai'oth
shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,
and I will glorify my glorious house.
...Your
gates shall be open continually; day and night they shall not be shut;
that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings led
in procession. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall
perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste. The glory of Lebanon
shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the
place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
The sons of those who oppressed you shall come bending low to you;
and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall
call you the City of the LORD,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
...Violence
shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within
your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates
Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness
shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD
will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Your
sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the
LORD will be your everlasting
light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.
Your
people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land for ever, the
shoot of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the LORD; in its time
I will hasten it.
|
