I always struggle with the discrepancy between the church as presented in the bible(the mystical Body of Christ, the glorious bride) with the struggling, frustrating often besmirched reality we often see. It is not a tension that I think can be resolved this side of eternity, but, then again, it is exactly the same tension as I find in my own life, between sinner and saint! (and that shouldn't want or need an exclamation mark!) This poem is simply descriptive, one day ugliness, sin and failure will be stripped away and the beauty of Jesus will be seen in His people
THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD
Behold, the handmaid of the Lord!
Behold her tatters, rags and dirt;
Besmirched by sin, bowed down by fear,
Disfigured, wounded, sorely hurt!
Out of her mouth come ugly things;
Greed in her eyes, grasping her touch.
Her feet have walked in filthy ways.
She sins, and she has hungered much!
Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
More like a beggar, reeking, foul!
Can any fountain make her clean?
Can any healing make her whole?
Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
Blood on her brow, her hands, her feet!
Dressed in white linen, wondrous, fair;
Ransomed, renewed, and whole and sweet!
Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
Joy in her heart, her arms stretched wide;
One precious name upon her lips,
Behold the handmaid, now a bride!
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1 comment:
This is lovely, and so real. I can relate to it better than many religious writings. It makes me hopeful of feeling more of that joy.
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