Lent: Humility 2

Bow at His feet.
You did not come here by yourself:
your knees are weak and buckle under pride,
and joints stiffen when left to self.

The road is narrow.
You must bend and bow to walk its curves;
it will not bend itself for you
and, puffed with knowledge, you will only make it burst.

Consider Him who bore
such shame, who fell such distance,
plumbed such trenches with His perfect grace,
and all the while knew joy.

Not greater than your master,
the mountain-side is no more yours than His.
If He descends, then so must you;
low, be lower still.

Lent: Humility 1

In praises, bow.
The dust heap is not your final home, yet He is king
and though a king He also bowed
and, humble, became dust.
So wait in dust, and bow.

And sing!
Such humble, unaffected fun befits the heirs
of one who danced the stars alight –
again! again! – in child’s constant joy.
Breathing into soil, He cherished soil;
rejoice; do not forget.

Do not forget His downward climb,
or His eyes turned in heavenward tears –
praise for truth revealed to babes;
anguish at the cup outstretched;
and always, Not my will but yours.
Bow at His feet and sing.

Bach Cantata, BWV 47 – 1.Chorus – Wer sich selbst erhöhet

Lent: New Song 6

Newness declares itself in broken hearts:
old ruts are vast and carry dust
yet penitence cleans fathoms deep
     and always makes anew.

What yesterday made shame your song
today is fading into silence.
Listen: polyphonic hope arises,
      gentle, soft, yet sure.

The old has passed, yet still can yell;
The new has come, and comes each day.
In humble ways and hopeful praise,
sing to the Lord new songs.

Lent: New Song 5

What have you seen of the past?
What stories do history’s pages tell?
A mute dirge perhaps, or a final bugle,
retreat sounding when battle’s about to be won?

You look only in false places;
the witness of the past tells only half-truth.
It was not there when firmaments were sealed
or covenants carved into space.

Shine light. Everything illuminated
comes to life. The dead must hide
in darkness where there is no voice.
Yet in the light a new song sings

and hails the truth that reigns…

Lent: New Song 4

New, this song that you must sing,
yet carved in ancient harmonies,
set to ancient notes and weighed
in ancient modes on ancient scales,
from everlasting days.

Tune your strings to ancient staves
and sing the truths of yesterday;
rehearse the promises of old
in present songs of future hope,
in freshest melody.

The old has gone, the new has come,
yet faithfulness of day remains,
and faithfulness will stay the same.
Sing new and old, sing all things new,
and let old hearts be changed.

Lent: New Song 3

Sing to the Lord a new song –
The old song is tired; it has no breath.
Love and faithfulness have kissed;
      sing their song and live.

Make way a path for righteousness –
a level path where knees won’t strain.
Sing body parts into new joy;
      watch new steps form for feet.

O search my heart. O listen, song –
the old is dead. The new must come.
Before your feet, set righteousness;
       let bodies learn His hymn.

Lent: New Song 2

When morning bright awakens eyes:
     awaken tongue; awaken mind.
When birdsong sounds the new of day:
     sing, soul and heart; sing new pathways.
When yesterday creeps back to minds:
     awaken, spirit; transform flesh.
When patterns threaten, dead songs groan:
     listen, heart, to Spirit’s song.
Turn the sounds of self to silence;
     lift up selfless praise.

Lent: New Song 1

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth!…Tell of his salvation from day to day.
(Psalm 96:1, 2b)

Old songs rot in dead ears;
Old ruts of thought declare:
That was not me       I will try harder
         I had no choice
                That’s just the person that I am…

To fudge is human; to change is divine.
The former things are dying;
Listen to this newest song,
The freshest song to sound in years:
All your dead deeds will crumble, fade,
yet there’s a God who gladly saves
and in the stars’ ancient dust He calls forth light…

Turn; sing to Him from your dust heap
      and praise
your morning Son,
your great Ancient of Days…

J.S. Bach: Motet BWV 225 ‘Singet dem Herrn’ – Vocalconsort Berlin

Lent: Emmaus 3

Too fast you walk down the mountainside;
momentum gathers, yet of a false and fleeting kind.
A fig tree full of leaves, but fruit sorely lacking,
you see the glory but faint at the sight of blood.

Slow down. It is a long road and your companion lingers;
His death puts brakes on our downward slide.
Listen: past, present, future all gathered in Him,
the words of life may echo

if you heed the words of death.

Lent: Emmaus 2

The heavens are telling the glory of God –
    (tweet tweet, like like, instant message)
His voice goes out to the ends of the earth –
    (I fast, I tithe, I pray twice a day)
Heaven and earth will pass away –
    (Lord, let me sit at your right hand)
Before His law will fade.

In wilderness, make straight the way –
     (I thank you, Lord, I’m not like him)
The Son of Man must suffer and die –
    (O surely Lord not I?)
Heaven and earth will pass away –
     (Anti-ageing cream for sale)
His promises remain.