December 30th 2012 Theophany

December 30^th 2012

On the cross they scoffed at him.

"Save yourself!" they cried.

But he had pledged to bear in him

Our frailty till he died.

And he is with Our Father one,

Who all affliction feels,

And joys as well: for heaven's Sun

Will every harm repeal.

Till three o'clock on Sunday morn

His corpse lay still and cold.

Archangels stood by helpless

As they watched and sought, I'm told.

Then Gabriel, Bright and Morning Star,

Did speak out loud and clear:

Paradise Sons lay down their life

And take it up – have no fear!"

And so, in form half spirit, and half material too,

Christ rose again and showed the way that we shall follow through.

But did our dieing world rise up? No, it did not I say.

It lingered on, moldy and dead, wasting fast away,

Till God on high, Our Father dear, could bear the blight no more,

And on December 30^th 2012 He showed the power He bore:

Resplendent in our wakening sky we saw our destiny,

Jerusalem laid out for us, adorned like a bride to be;

The heavens vastly opened up, and all rejoiced to see

Across the orb of heaven shown the path of destiny;

The old sky gone like a folded book,

A new one came from Our Shepherd's crook;

A cross of light we soon discerned,

Not dead wood but a sword of truth

Triumphant over death and hate

And filthy lies, it showed our fate,

And gave us hope and soothe.

Lift up your heart, Oh blighted one,

Let joy be yours again,

The Lord our God is truly One,

Our life is not in vain.