Sunrise

In the midst of war and destruction, the Sun still manages to rise. It never gives up, no matter the darkness of the night or the despair of the heart. Those of us who will gather on Easter Day to sing hymns of Resurrection, have to be conscious of the task we have, to make our world a better place, a safer place, and a hopeful place where all people matter, no matter what! Choosing poems for Easter Day has been difficult but two poems seem to be asking to be included. Both poems are from Scott Cairn’s collection entitled “Slow Pilgrim” and from which I have shared before. However today’s poems I have not used. The first is not about Easter but about Jesus’ Transfiguration found in the gospel of Mark chapter 9. I believe this poem is most appropriate for us on Easter as it is a call to see what we often miss. The second poem is an invitation to set out, to go forward, not to retreat. A timely word of encouragement as many of us would prefer to go into hiding in the midst of such challenging times! Easter is a call for boldness as much as for belief. Easter is a call for doing not for dogma. I wish you a challenging and encouraging Easter.

                            As We See

“The transfiguration of our Lord, that is the radiance
in which he was bathed at the pinnacle of Mount Tabor
did not manifest a change in him, but a change in those who saw him.”
          -Isaac the Least

Suppose the Holy One Whose Face We Seek
is not so much invisible as we
are ill-equipped to apprehend His grave
proximity. Suppose our fixed attention
serves mostly to make evident the gap
dividing what is seen and what is here.

The Book there on the stand proves arduous
to open, entombed as it is in layers
of accretion, layers of gloss applied
to varied purposes, hardly any of them
laudable, so many, guarded ploys
to keep the terms quite still, predictable.

Which is why I’m drawn to — why I love — the way
the rabbis teach. I love the way they read —
opening The Book with reverence for what
they’ve found before, joy for what lies waiting.
I love the Word’s ability to rise again
from chronic homiletic burial.

Say the One is not so hidden as we
are kept by our own conjuncture blinking,
puzzled, leaning in without result. Let’s say
the meek, the poor, the merciful all
suspect His hand despite the evidence.
As for those rarest folk, the pure in heart?                                      
Intent on what they touch, they see Him now.  -Scott Cairns  “Slow pilgrim

            Setting Out

Pilgrim: What is it that you do here?
Monk: We fall, and we get up again.

In time, even the slowest pilgrim might
articulate a turn. Given time enough,

the slowest pilgrim—even he—might
register some small measure of belated

progress. The road was, more or less, less
compelling than the hut, but as the benefit

of time allowed the hut’s distractions to attain
a vaguely musty scent, and all the novel

knickknacks to acquire a fine veneer of bone-
white dust, the road became then somewhat more

attractive, and as the weather made a timely
if quite brief concession, the pilgrim took this all

to be an open invitation to set out.    -Scott Cairns  “Slow Pilgrim”

Prayer:
Lord God,
on this Easter Day help
us to see with our hearts,
to hear with our imagination,
and to respond with our lives.
Lord God,
on this Easter Day,
let the puzzle remain unsolved
let the mystery have its full place
and let us forget dogma and remember
love.
Lord God
on this Easter Day
grant us the miracle of
rebirth
to your call to
follow,
grant us the miracle of
hope
to your call to be hopeful.
May the Sun continue to rise
and might we continue
to set out,
no matter what. Amen.