New Home

Rough the terrain, hard the ground,
The wild thrashing all around.
Is this harsh land, to be new home?
The scent of distant flowers…
At peace.
Shalom.

Holy Exile

Rejoice, those now in foreign land,
In holy exile, blessed by His hand,
Our foes now fled, He bids us, “Come back”,
In white of snow, trace the Lord’s footsteps.
~ D.F.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
December 29, 2013

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The Flight to Egypt:

“… behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
~ Matthew 2:13

Innocent

Deeply steeped in winter’s hold,
All hint of sin covered by snow.
But white fades, soon all expose,
Sweet innocence or guilt on show.
~ D.F.

Feast of the Holy Innocents
December 28, 2013

The Word

The Word
•~•~•~•~•~•

I was there when the sun first rose,
Hoisting it high to heaven’s height,
I was there to catch the evening glow,
Lullabies easing, earth’s first night.
~ D.F.

Feast of St John the Evangelist
December 27, 2013

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“All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be.”
~ John 1:3

Stephen

The foes are biting, his head hung low,
It rained so hard, the stones and blows,
Yet, even as his blood ran cold,
Victory beckons! To the Lord, he holds.
~ D.F.

Feast of St Stephen, First Martyr
December 26, 2013

Winter’s Feat

In the low that is winter’s tone,
Swirling winds, cut to the bone.
He who had fuelled the summer’s heat,
That brief moment, the cold defeats.
~ D.F.

Purple and Crown

Holy, to be praised, this Child,
Before whom the angels bow down,
To redeem poor souls, sinful and wild,
Willing forfeit! His purple and crown.
~ D.F.

Sons of Man

Linked by blood and common plan,
Two, these greatest sons of man*,
The first came forth to till the land,
The Word sown next, The Lord’s own hand.
~ D.F.

*Jesus and his older cousin, John the Baptist:

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“This is the one about whom scripture says: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
~ Luke 7:27-28

Anawim Tree

Waif of a tree, bare, unadorned,
Planted in earth, dry and worn,
Still its leaves glisten, in golden light,
Kissed by His sun, its soul burns bright.
~ D.F.

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Anawim (Hebrew, pronounced ann-a-weem) refers to the poor who keep faith in God even in hard times.

Live Bright

What will your Christmas be like,
When at last the tree turns to dry?
Beyond plain sight, the spirit hides,
Give to the poor, those lonely inside.
This task attend, on this longest night,
And while it must die,
Your tree lives bright.
~ D.F.

Winter Solstice
December 21, 2013