Poem For the Sunday Lectionary (Easter 4, Yr B)

A PRAYER TO THE SHEPHERD
(Psalm 23, John 10: 11-18)

O Lord our Shepherd,
may your flock not want
in the refugee camps
of Yarmouk, of Darfur, of Dadaab.

May life-giving pastures of nourishment be theirs
in Sudan, in Niger, in Chad.

May waters of peacefulness and healing flow
in Somalia, in Syria, in Ukraine.

And may souls be restored in our own cities and towns
where violence and hunger still live.

O Lord our Shepherd,
death shadows the valleys
and the houses and hills of our lands.

May the strength of your grace and
the assurance of your love
ever with us and ever embracing,
bring comfort to the grieving and alone.

May there be a table of reconciliation prepared
where enemies may sit down in peace

and may the cup of joy overflow for those
whose suffering has been their drink.

Let your goodness and mercy attend your flock,
O Shepherd, our Lord,
and may all your flock dwell
in the unity of your love
as long as life endures.

Poem For the Sunday Lectionary (Easter 3, Yr B)

THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS
(Luke 24: 36-48)

As the pine cone opens
to the warm breath of spring

as the buds of the tree
open to the sun

as the thirsty earth opens
to life-giving rain

as the mouth of the babe
opens for milk

as the heart of the lover
opens to its love

so open our minds
Creator eternal

so open our minds
O Lover of all

so open our minds
O crucified Redeemer

to the presence of your grace
in the sacred word,

and the grace that is your presence,
O living Word.

^{Copyright © 2015 by Andrew King}

Poem For The Sunday Lectionary (Easter 2, Yr B)

THE EASTER BREATH
(John 20: 19-31)

In the upper room, in the evening,
we meet to talk, the doors all locked in fear,
spirits low, defeated hearts still grieving,
the empty grave upon our thoughts, and here,
where he washed our feet, broke and shared the bread,
his painful absence seems the more defined.
Though Mary says that he’s no longer dead,
shame, despair and fear still haunt our minds.
And then: the voice we thought we’d hear no more –
it is the Lord! We see his side and hands,
and he gives us peace, and words that restore
our hearts, that lift our heads, by which we stand
with strength: he breathes on us and says, “Receive
the Spirit.” Lord, we do. We believe. And breathe.

^{Copyright © 2015 by Andrew King}