Friday, December 15, 2006
On the Way to Bethlehem
Dusty was the road that day,
dust and rock and winter sun
where the small young women went
large with child and tired and bent,
down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
Others passed them by as they went,
dust and rock and winter sun,
Unknowing of the wonder there,
beneath her heart a thing so rare
going down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
She carried an amazing thing
dust and rock and winter sun,
A mystery unfelt, unseen,
by those who passed her travelling
going down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
She gave a yes that shook the world,
dust and rock and winter sun
yet others noticed not a thing,
how a poor girl carried the whole world's king
going down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
Susan E Stone, 2006
dust and rock and winter sun
where the small young women went
large with child and tired and bent,
down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
Others passed them by as they went,
dust and rock and winter sun,
Unknowing of the wonder there,
beneath her heart a thing so rare
going down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
She carried an amazing thing
dust and rock and winter sun,
A mystery unfelt, unseen,
by those who passed her travelling
going down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
She gave a yes that shook the world,
dust and rock and winter sun
yet others noticed not a thing,
how a poor girl carried the whole world's king
going down the road with her husband
on the way to Bethlehem.
Susan E Stone, 2006
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Mary
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Verbum
Verbum
Word
Logos
That which was from the beginning
In the beginning was the Word
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made
And God said
By his breath the host of heaven
Word
Logos
Verbum
The Word that goes forth from God's mouth
We declare unto you the life, the eternal life which was with the Father
it shall not return to him empty.
Logos
Verbum
Word
The name he is called by is the Word of God
et Verbum erat apud Deum
And the Word was with God
Behold his glory
In him was life, and the life was the light of men
The only Begotten
et Deus erat Verbum
And the Word was God
And every knee shall bow
Verbum
Word
Logos
Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Word
Logos
That which was from the beginning
In the beginning was the Word
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made
And God said
By his breath the host of heaven
Word
Logos
Verbum
The Word that goes forth from God's mouth
We declare unto you the life, the eternal life which was with the Father
it shall not return to him empty.
Logos
Verbum
Word
The name he is called by is the Word of God
et Verbum erat apud Deum
And the Word was with God
Behold his glory
In him was life, and the life was the light of men
The only Begotten
et Deus erat Verbum
And the Word was God
And every knee shall bow
Verbum
Word
Logos
Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Emmanuel, scripture
Saturday, December 10, 2005
O Come!
O come!
O Jesus
O Light
O Hope of mankind,
God with us,
Who came as the poor child
of poor parents,
King of the universe
embracing his people,
You who come so often
in the guise of the irritating,
the unpleasant
the lowly
the needy
the ugly
the hurt
Come to me today,
as surely as you came that nativity night
and fill my heart
with the light of your love
that I may see with your eyes,
love with your heart,
touch with your touch,
until
when you come again in glory,
King of the universe,
Righter of wrongs,
Merciful judge,
Lord or Lords,
you might look into my heart
and say
"Yes, I know you.
Come to the wedding feast.".
Susan E. Stone, 2005
O Jesus
O Light
O Hope of mankind,
God with us,
Who came as the poor child
of poor parents,
King of the universe
embracing his people,
You who come so often
in the guise of the irritating,
the unpleasant
the lowly
the needy
the ugly
the hurt
Come to me today,
as surely as you came that nativity night
and fill my heart
with the light of your love
that I may see with your eyes,
love with your heart,
touch with your touch,
until
when you come again in glory,
King of the universe,
Righter of wrongs,
Merciful judge,
Lord or Lords,
you might look into my heart
and say
"Yes, I know you.
Come to the wedding feast.".
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Loving God, Need for God
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Meditation on the Nativity
O Lord,
how often we think we are rich,
living in plenty,
but our hearts, instead,
are living in the barrens,
a desert haunted
by dry winds ripping at our souls,
waiting for the rain from Heaven
that makes the desert bloom,
that brings the peace we long for,
looking for it in so many wrong places,
forgetting the source,
forgetting the call,
forgetting you.
So much like how the world
once turned its back
on a stable,
and a child,
and the song of angels,
leaving no room at the inn
like we too often
leave no room in our lives,
though how our hearts long to be filled,
were made to hear that song,
to know that child.
Touch our ears, O Lord,
that we might hear that song,
Touch our hearts, O Lord,
that we might realize the emptiness,
Touch our eyes, O Lord,
that we might realize the true poverty
which is life without you,
This day, and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
how often we think we are rich,
living in plenty,
but our hearts, instead,
are living in the barrens,
a desert haunted
by dry winds ripping at our souls,
waiting for the rain from Heaven
that makes the desert bloom,
that brings the peace we long for,
looking for it in so many wrong places,
forgetting the source,
forgetting the call,
forgetting you.
So much like how the world
once turned its back
on a stable,
and a child,
and the song of angels,
leaving no room at the inn
like we too often
leave no room in our lives,
though how our hearts long to be filled,
were made to hear that song,
to know that child.
Touch our ears, O Lord,
that we might hear that song,
Touch our hearts, O Lord,
that we might realize the emptiness,
Touch our eyes, O Lord,
that we might realize the true poverty
which is life without you,
This day, and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Discipleship
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Advent Prayer
O Lord God, our Father Almighty,
You who were pleased that your only begotton Son
should take flesh from a virgin
and be made man for our salvation,
You who sent your angel Gabriel to the holy Virgin Mary
with the good tidings of his conception,
You were the one who had decided that before all ages
that she should be the instrument of such a great mystery.
By her prayers,
and those of all your saints,
announce to our souls the good news,
the glad tidings of the forgiveness of sins
through your grace and mercy and and love.
Speak peace to your people,
Help us walk the path that will make us well pleasing in your sight
through your kindness and mercy,
and may our feet never stray
from the road to your heavenly kingdom
opened up to us through the mercy and love of Jesus your Son
for a sad and suffering mankind.
O Lord, during this advent season,
soften our hearts,
open our eyes,
and may we ponder the truth of a God who truly loves us,
this day, and always.
Amen.
You who were pleased that your only begotton Son
should take flesh from a virgin
and be made man for our salvation,
You who sent your angel Gabriel to the holy Virgin Mary
with the good tidings of his conception,
You were the one who had decided that before all ages
that she should be the instrument of such a great mystery.
By her prayers,
and those of all your saints,
announce to our souls the good news,
the glad tidings of the forgiveness of sins
through your grace and mercy and and love.
Speak peace to your people,
Help us walk the path that will make us well pleasing in your sight
through your kindness and mercy,
and may our feet never stray
from the road to your heavenly kingdom
opened up to us through the mercy and love of Jesus your Son
for a sad and suffering mankind.
O Lord, during this advent season,
soften our hearts,
open our eyes,
and may we ponder the truth of a God who truly loves us,
this day, and always.
Amen.
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Meditation on Isaiah 11:10
On that day
the Root of Jesse
shall stand as a sign, a banner, a signal
to the nations,
and the Gentiles shall seek him, inquiring,
for his place of rest shall be glorious.
What sign did he give us?
A babe so poor
that he sleeps in a stable,
laid to rest in a feeding trough
for lack of a bed,
A babe so special
that the heavens could not contain their joy,
for Love had wrought what only Love can do,
Giving all in the name of Love,
no matter what the cost.
What sign did he give us?
A beacon on a hill,
Arms outstretched
in bloody sacrifice,
he the lintel,
he the blood offered
He the lamb consumed
in this new Passover,
for Love had wrought what only Love can do,
Giving all in the name of Love,
no matter what the cost.
What sign did he give us?
An empty tomb
A discarded shroud,
A promise fulfilled,
Hope in the darkness,
Joy in his touch,
Peace,
for Love had wrought what only Love can do,
Giving all in the name of Love,
no matter what the cost.
O Jesus!
Where you are is the glory of God,
Be with me
O Love incarnate,
O Light,
O Peace,
O Hope,
This day, and always.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Jesus' Love, scripture
Monday, December 29, 2003
Thoughts on the gifts of the Magi
Lord, help me not just hear about sorrows and
disasters, troubles and needs,
and feel sad and impotent and useless.
Show me how to respond to you
whereever you show your face,
not just on the news stories,
not just to people far away,
but here too,
in the forgotten
and hidden and
undesirable.
Teach me to use my hands
to cover your nakedness,
not just "over there,"
but here at home where a homeless person
sleeps in the cold,
or a child needs socks
or a mother wears slippers in the cold
so her children can have sneakers.
Teach me to see the need,
to give you food and drink
not just to a foreign mission,
but to those here who are forgotten,
the elderly,
the ill,
the out of work,
all those we choose not to see day by day.
Teach me to share your light
wherever it is needed.
Let me see your face in the afflicted,
the sad,
the grieving,
the angry,
those who most distress me.
O my Jesus,
who as a child received the gifts of the Magi,
let me offer you the gold
of good intentions put into practice,
the healing myrrh that comes by sharing your peace,
the frankincense of prayer and action
offered up to you, through you, by your power,
this day, and always.
Amen
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Lord, help me not just hear about sorrows and
disasters, troubles and needs,
and feel sad and impotent and useless.
Show me how to respond to you
whereever you show your face,
not just on the news stories,
not just to people far away,
but here too,
in the forgotten
and hidden and
undesirable.
Teach me to use my hands
to cover your nakedness,
not just "over there,"
but here at home where a homeless person
sleeps in the cold,
or a child needs socks
or a mother wears slippers in the cold
so her children can have sneakers.
Teach me to see the need,
to give you food and drink
not just to a foreign mission,
but to those here who are forgotten,
the elderly,
the ill,
the out of work,
all those we choose not to see day by day.
Teach me to share your light
wherever it is needed.
Let me see your face in the afflicted,
the sad,
the grieving,
the angry,
those who most distress me.
O my Jesus,
who as a child received the gifts of the Magi,
let me offer you the gold
of good intentions put into practice,
the healing myrrh that comes by sharing your peace,
the frankincense of prayer and action
offered up to you, through you, by your power,
this day, and always.
Amen
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany
Thursday, December 25, 2003
Sweet, perfect child
laying in Our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Dim the light
in this stable tonight,
and yet, the Light of the world
has come to join us.
Sweet, perfect child
laying in our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Straw and the lowing
of cattle tonight
greet your coming,
forcasting how many
would have no room for you
in the inn of their lives,
yet still with the shepherds,
those of us who listen to the singing of heaven
come and find you ever anew
to discover the love that brings you here.
Sweet perfect child,
laying in our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Now, with Mary,
let us celebrate
the wonder of your coming.
Now, with the angels,
let us raise our voices
for the wonder of you love/
Sweet perfect child,
laying in our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
laying in Our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Dim the light
in this stable tonight,
and yet, the Light of the world
has come to join us.
Sweet, perfect child
laying in our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Straw and the lowing
of cattle tonight
greet your coming,
forcasting how many
would have no room for you
in the inn of their lives,
yet still with the shepherds,
those of us who listen to the singing of heaven
come and find you ever anew
to discover the love that brings you here.
Sweet perfect child,
laying in our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Now, with Mary,
let us celebrate
the wonder of your coming.
Now, with the angels,
let us raise our voices
for the wonder of you love/
Sweet perfect child,
laying in our Lady's lap,
how amazing to think of who you are.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany
Monday, December 22, 2003
In this season,
may we pause in amazement
of God With Us,
Emanuel,
laying there,
not as a mighty king,
but a child
with no roof of his own
who has come to lead us to our true home.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
may we pause in amazement
of God With Us,
Emanuel,
laying there,
not as a mighty king,
but a child
with no roof of his own
who has come to lead us to our true home.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany
The present
There I see you,
my king and my God,
laying there in the manger,
newly come into the world
with all the bright promise
of that wonderful gift.
What gift have I to bring
to lay at your feet
in joyful offering
for this wonderous moment?
I give you my heart,
torn and touched with sin,
my hands, too often used to hurt
as well as help,
my mouth to sing your praise,
even as it says that which causes pain.
It is not much, I know,
to give to you who hold the universe
in your hands,
but like the widow's mite
I lay it at your feet,
all that I have to give.
In your hands, Lord,
may it become transformed
into something that will please you.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
There I see you,
my king and my God,
laying there in the manger,
newly come into the world
with all the bright promise
of that wonderful gift.
What gift have I to bring
to lay at your feet
in joyful offering
for this wonderous moment?
I give you my heart,
torn and touched with sin,
my hands, too often used to hurt
as well as help,
my mouth to sing your praise,
even as it says that which causes pain.
It is not much, I know,
to give to you who hold the universe
in your hands,
but like the widow's mite
I lay it at your feet,
all that I have to give.
In your hands, Lord,
may it become transformed
into something that will please you.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany
On the Nativity
Thank you Jesus,
for not coming to us in a palace,
waited on by servants,
pampered in cloth of gold
and surrounded by walls
to keep out those of us
not worthy to glimpse your perfection.
Thank you instead,
for coming to us poor but accessible,
laying in a cattle feeding box
for lack of a better bed,
in a hovel meant for animals,
where anyone could walk in
and see the miracle of
God taking on flesh.
Lord, teach us to value
what is really important -
As we celebrate the miracle of your birth,
and on this and every day of our lives.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Thank you Jesus,
for not coming to us in a palace,
waited on by servants,
pampered in cloth of gold
and surrounded by walls
to keep out those of us
not worthy to glimpse your perfection.
Thank you instead,
for coming to us poor but accessible,
laying in a cattle feeding box
for lack of a better bed,
in a hovel meant for animals,
where anyone could walk in
and see the miracle of
God taking on flesh.
Lord, teach us to value
what is really important -
As we celebrate the miracle of your birth,
and on this and every day of our lives.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2003
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Emmanuel
