and now stand we all upon the brink of mystery
for to us, the empty-handed, there has been a child born
uncreated, He has entered human history
life eternal, swaddled in the flesh that we have worn

a life incredible, vivid, excellent.
and now stand we all upon the brink of mystery
for to us, the empty-handed, there has been a child born
uncreated, He has entered human history
life eternal, swaddled in the flesh that we have worn
wonder-wrapt, she walked the rocky road as
it wound its way between the hills to a stone house
tucked between the trees.
O Bread of Life, You are the
true food that satisfies our hungry
souls.
the old man’s hunger had left his stomach hollow.
how am i to know this? he had asked the angel.
elizabeth’s womb lies barren; no seed
has ever taken root. and i am no better than a wizened stem.
i glanced out the window
into the night
and chanced to glimpse the crescent moon
father Abraham was promised a son. but
remember — sarah laughed. can new things come from an
old body? can life spring forth from what is dead?
O Eternal Light, it is death’s night You have saved us from;
on those in the land of shadow and sorrow
You have dawned.
Who will lift the shroud of night
heaven’s light fresh to reveal
overcome death’s with’ring blight
deign our wounded hearts to heal?
tell us, bethlehem
how the King will come —
enfleshed in the frame of a
child obscure?
the Healer comes
on wings of dawn
your woeful wounds
on Him He takes