Another Way

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
—Matthew 2:1-12

The star had heralded the dawn
but vanished in the day.
The road that led you there was gone—
you took another way.

The sigil had not ceased to burn;
the star shone out the same,
but you were no more what you were
who'd seen a brighter flame.

Up to that hour you'd known the night,
a sky where all was dim,
and now you stagger in the light—
all you had known dislimns.

The world of starlight breaks apart,
the pieces rearrange.
So, too, the fragments of your heart
beneath the infant's gaze.

You travelled far to look on him;
now he has looked at you:
You breath comes short; your vision swims;
your world is all made new.

And where there were no roads before,
new ways have opened wide.
The world itself an open door
spills out a glorious light.

Adoración de los Reyes Magos by El Greco, 1568 (Museo Soumaya, Mexico City) – Museo Soumaya Plaza Carso, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35846297

Bright Star

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
—Isaiah 60:1-6

When wise men turn from learning
the strictures of the page
to seek a bright star burning,
an infant as their sage,
the wisdom of the ages
our wisdom crosswise turns:
a key unlocking cages,
the light for which we yearn.

Our ordering and knowing
have all been rearranged
by that one bright star glowing,
and we shall all be changed.
We shall no more flee danger,
but kings shall leave their thrones
to bow before a manger
when Christ is king alone.

Though now the way is hidden
and hope is pale and wan,
yet that bright star is given—
To us is born a son.
His brighter morn is coming
that never shall grow dim,
the sun of justice dawning:
Come, let us follow him!

Incised third century A.D. sarcophagus slab depicts the Adoration of the Magi, from the Catacombs of Rome – translated as, “Severa, may you live in God”, Severa being the woman buried in the sarcophagus and likely the figure to the left of the inscription. Photo By Giovanni Dall’Orto – Own work, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3926530

Your Star

For the Feast of Epiphany:

We only saw your star by night,

and journeyed on by day

with nothing but remembered light

to guide us on the way.



And every day as evening fell,

exhausted, to the dust,

we sought the star again to tell

your wonders unto us.



But there were days we could not look,

we could not lift our heads,

and then it was your mercy took

and led our weary steps.



The way was hard, but it was sweet—

though it was roundabout:

You carved it out before our feet

through all our fear and doubt.



But day and night you led us here

to look upon your face,

and all our trials, all our tears

transfigured into grace.



As we take to the road again,

whatever comes, we know

your star led us to Bethlehem

and it will lead us home.

James Tissot: The Magi Journeying (c. 1890), Brooklyn Museum, New York City – Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006, 00.159.30_PS1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10195787

Send a Star

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
Matthew 2:1-12

To wherever we have wandered,
forged a way and set down roots,
send a star for us to ponder:
Show us how we long for you.

In the pathways of our seeking
where our end is all unknown,
send a star in silence speaking
words that lead us back to home.

Not to fear it at its rising,
though the road it marks is long:
Send a star of hope still bright'ning,
giving strength to travel on.

Not to turn from it in anger
at the labor it demands:
Send a star to give us bravery
as we take our gifts in hand.

Give us wonder for the journey
though the days are hard and grim.
Send a star that shows your mercy
when at last we come to him.

Give us love for Christ the Savior
who, like us, your image bears.
Send a star; illuminate us.
Let us see the face we share.

The Three Magi, Byzantine mosaic c. 565, Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy (restored during the 19th century). As here Byzantine art usually depicts the Magi in Persian clothing which includes breeches, capes and Phrygian caps. By Nina-no – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2176501

He Shall Be Peace

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Isaiah 60:1-6

For Epiphany:

So long the clouds have covered us;
so long they hid the light,
but dawn is breaking over us.
Come, revel in the sight!

And see: The children lost to us
have set out on the way,
the sons and daughters taken once, 
returning with the day.

The deaf'ning thunder of our wars,
our sorrow's blinding tears:
They vanish when the rising morn
has touched our eyes and ears.

And all the riches of the earth
that glitter in the dawn
cannot outshine him at his birth:
The Sun of Justice comes!

Both king and shepherd, see him rise:
All nations now behold—
oh, brighter than the morning skies!—
the comfort long foretold.

Lift up your eyes, Jerusalem,
and shine at what you see:
A shepherd comes from Bethlehem,
and, oh! He shall be peace!

*Adoration of the Magi* by El Greco, 1568, Museo Soumaya, Mexico City – Museo Soumaya Plaza Carso, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35846297

The World We Know Is Changing

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested,
he withdrew to Galilee.
He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea,
in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:12-17

The world we know is changing;
compassion's long defeat
is shifting, rearranging
the ground beneath our feet.

Now every step's a crossroads,
and endlessly we choose
to set aside our crossloads
or bear them through the gloom.

The sky is growing dimmer,
and hope slips fast away,
but there is yet a glimmer,
a light that shows the way.

This is the night we walk in
by faith, if not by sight,
and we are made the beacons
who never can be bright.

O Christ, the sun of justice,
come strengthen our poor eyes
to see you in each other
and see your morning rise.

Come, Son of God, renewing
the ground beneath our feet.
Help us each step we're choosing
that peace and justice meet.

The Light of the World – 1853-54 By William Holman Hunt – Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6452048

We Saw a Star

We saw a star that did not rise:
a comet in the night half-spent
that rested low within the skies,
and where it beckoned, there we went.

Night after night it led us on,
'til all the ways behind were lost.
Our childhood constellations gone,
new lights arose with every dusk.

How could we steer by unknown stars,
or taste what these new breezes blew?
We held our course through day and dark
by that, the only light we knew.

And soon we saw with our eyes closed
the star, a lodestone in our minds
that led us still down weary roads,
a path that ever onward winds

past temples built for gods long dead,
past hillsides drenched in angels' light,
past one child in a manger bed,
and on in us the star shines bright.

The more the pathway twists and turns, 
the more we seek to follow still;
the more we follow, more it burns
to lead beyond the cross-crowned hill.

It leads, as all roads lead, to death,
and there beneath the darkest sky
we'll stop at last and catch our breath,
then trail the comet rising high.

The three Magi (named Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior), from Herrad of Landsberg‘s *Hortus deliciarum* (12th century) By Made at the Hohenburg Abbey, France, 1185 by Herrad of Landsberg (c.1130 – July 25, 1195) These illustrations are from a reproduction by Christian Maurice Engelhardt, 1818 – Hortus Deliciarum, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22578096

Searching For the Star

For Epiphany. To the tune BEACH SPRING.

 Though we search the clouded heavens
 we see nothing of the star
 that of old revealed your presence,
 showing seekers where you are.
 Still we stumble in procession—
 Come, oh Lord, our way unbar!
 Or are we lost in transgression?
Have we wandered off too far?

Distant thunder drawing nearer,
 lightning flashing in the sky,
 still our way becomes no clearer,
 still no starlight meets our eye.
 Come, oh Christ, our hearts' revealer,
 lifted up for us on high.
 Come, our guide, and come, our healer;
 we are lost, Lord: Hear our cry!
  
 For the star is still there shining,
 for your light has yet to fade.
 Still from heav'n to earth inclining
 do you touch the hearts you made.
 Come, our lives and souls refining;
 give us sight to pierce the shade.
 Come, your light in us enshrining;
 lead us back to Eden's glade.

By No machine-readable author provided. Zwergelstern assumed (based on copyright claims). – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24811 By No machine-readable author provided. Zwergelstern assumed (based on copyright claims). – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24811

Seers and Sages

For Epiphany. To the tune AURELIA (“The Church’s One Foundation”):

 The words of seers and sages
 wove spells we could not know,
 though deep we dug in pages
 to learn the way to go.
 Your words to men and mages
 no light to us would show
 'til, wonder of the ages,
 a star began to glow.
  
 Relentless, unabating,
 our search for unseen light,
 the years of weary waiting,
 of watching in the night,
 but oh! The hope unfading
 that trained our human sight
 to search in midnight's shading
 sees now your glory bright.
  
 O Sign of newborn wonder,
 now lead us night and day
 and split the night asunder
 to pierce us with your ray.
 And when we turn to plunder
 or left or right we stray,
 sound in our ears like thunder
 to keep us in your way.
  
 When shall we come before you?
 When shall our journey end?
 Though clouds and doubts obscure you,
 you light you still will send
 'til we come to adore you
 and kneel to serve your friends.
 Oh, mercy, we implore you
 upon our hearts descend!

The Three Wise Kings, *Catalan Atlas,* 1375, fol. V: “This province is called Tarshish, from which came the Three Wise Kings, and they came to Bethlehem in Judaea with their gifts and worshipped Jesus Christ, and they are entombed in the city of Cologne two days journey from Bruges.” By Abraham Cresques – This file comes from Gallica Digital Library and is available under the digital ID btv1b55002481n, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44404372

‘Twas Not the King

For Epiphany. This is what happens when A) you realize that the Magi did not make their own gifts, and B) you look on Wikipedia to see where frankincense and myrrh come from. That’s when you find out that Herodotus reported that frankincense comes from serpent-infested trees, and myrrh trees have enormous thorns.

 'Twas not the king who labored in the ground
 where treasure sleeps sealed up within the stone,
 and though he bears it to you, robed and crowned,
 the gold he bears is not his gift alone.
 But we who delved for gold entombed in earth
 send him with tribute at our prince's birth.
 
 'Twas not the king who scaled the ancient trees
 where serpents lurk, who risked their deadly sting
 to find the incense fit for deities,
 but priestlike, now, he bears our offering.
 We lift our hands, as prayerful smoke ascends,
 to praise the God whose mercy never ends.
  
 'Twas not the king who reached amid the thorn
 in search of priceless myrrh that ends all pain,
 who bears the harvest scars, whose hands were torn:
 he brings from us the end of earthly reign.
 You dust shall be well shrouded, Son of Man,
 at your life's end, as when it first began.
  
 'Twas not the king we served in working thus,
 in menial toil or secrets of our art.
 No earthly king, but heaven come to us
 we love and serve with mind and strength and heart.
 Remember us, when you go to your own,
 and raise us up to stand before your throne.