Yesterday’s prompt from Poetic Asides was to:
“…write a poem of rebirth. There are many different types of rebirth available, including the changing of the seasons, the beginning of the day, religious or spiritual rebirth, a reconfirmation of good in people, re-learning how to love, etc.”
Rebirth…renewal…hmmm…This idea brought me to a great book I’m reading on Sin (and sin) and a quote I came across from Irenaeus, an early church father (c. 202AD.) Irenaues attributes the quote below to the Apostle John as he was telling of Christ’s teachings on the coming of the Kingdom and the renewal of Creation. It's long, but go ahead, it's worth it!
“The predicted blessing, therefore, belongs unquestionably to the times of the kingdom, when the righteous shall bear rule upon their rising from the dead; when also the creation, having been renovated and set free, shall fructify with an abundance of all kinds of food, from the dew of heaven, and from the fertility of the earth: as the elders who saw John, the disciple of the Lord, related that they had heard from him how the Lord used to teach in regard to these times, and say: The days will come, in which vines shall grow, each having ten thousand branches, and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in each one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes, and every grape when pressed will give five and twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another shall cry out, I am a better cluster, take me; bless the Lord through me. In like manner [the Lord declared] that a grain of wheat would produce ten thousand ears, and that every ear should have ten thousand grains, and every grain would yield ten pounds of clear, pure, fine flour; and that all other fruit-bearing trees, and seeds and grass, would produce in similar proportions; and that all animals feeding [only] on the productions of the earth, should [in those days] become peaceful and harmonious among each other, and be in perfect subjection to man.” - Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 33
What a lovely picture of the redemption of Creation. So, of course, this is my inspiration for a “renewal” poem this morning.
Thy Kingdom Come
Can you imagine?
When your eyes will really see,
When your ears will clearly hear,
When your tongue will truly taste?
Now it’s through a glass darkly -
Seeing glimmers of potential,
Hearing whispers of rejoicing,
Taking sips of redemption.
Can you imagine?
What wonders to behold,
What praises to be sung,
What joys to be tasted?
See the lion with the lamb?
Hear the people praising?
Eat the wedding feast -
Imagine!
“…write a poem of rebirth. There are many different types of rebirth available, including the changing of the seasons, the beginning of the day, religious or spiritual rebirth, a reconfirmation of good in people, re-learning how to love, etc.”
Rebirth…renewal…hmmm…This idea brought me to a great book I’m reading on Sin (and sin) and a quote I came across from Irenaeus, an early church father (c. 202AD.) Irenaues attributes the quote below to the Apostle John as he was telling of Christ’s teachings on the coming of the Kingdom and the renewal of Creation. It's long, but go ahead, it's worth it!
“The predicted blessing, therefore, belongs unquestionably to the times of the kingdom, when the righteous shall bear rule upon their rising from the dead; when also the creation, having been renovated and set free, shall fructify with an abundance of all kinds of food, from the dew of heaven, and from the fertility of the earth: as the elders who saw John, the disciple of the Lord, related that they had heard from him how the Lord used to teach in regard to these times, and say: The days will come, in which vines shall grow, each having ten thousand branches, and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in each one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes, and every grape when pressed will give five and twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another shall cry out, I am a better cluster, take me; bless the Lord through me. In like manner [the Lord declared] that a grain of wheat would produce ten thousand ears, and that every ear should have ten thousand grains, and every grain would yield ten pounds of clear, pure, fine flour; and that all other fruit-bearing trees, and seeds and grass, would produce in similar proportions; and that all animals feeding [only] on the productions of the earth, should [in those days] become peaceful and harmonious among each other, and be in perfect subjection to man.” - Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 33
What a lovely picture of the redemption of Creation. So, of course, this is my inspiration for a “renewal” poem this morning.
Thy Kingdom Come
Can you imagine?
When your eyes will really see,
When your ears will clearly hear,
When your tongue will truly taste?
Now it’s through a glass darkly -
Seeing glimmers of potential,
Hearing whispers of rejoicing,
Taking sips of redemption.
Can you imagine?
What wonders to behold,
What praises to be sung,
What joys to be tasted?
See the lion with the lamb?
Hear the people praising?
Eat the wedding feast -
Imagine!
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1 comment:
Great poem!! give ole Lennon a run for his money - It is unimaginable, but fun to try - and to think we have eternity to enjoy it all with the Lord and all our sisters and brothers! BTW - I love the word, "fructify!" I had never heard it before, had to look it up! C
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