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

Morning Star

Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
—2 Peter 1:19

It sits just below the horizon,
steadfast as we're losing the light;
what changes the world at its rising
now waits for the coming of night.

And we who have waited in darkness
and watched as the light fades away,
we see even now the first stars out
with us keeping vigil for day.

As midnight draws nearer and nearer
the shadows grow deeper than deep,
but in them we see all the clearer
the longing that draws us from sleep

to wait with a hushed expectation
that knows every shadow must pass
the gleam of the world's restoration,
the light breaking on us at last.

And all who have waited to see it
cry out with the strength it imparts,
“Shine out, holy light, from your zenith!
O morning star, rise in our hearts!”

Venus is always brighter than the brightest stars outside the Solar System, as can be seen here over the Pacific Ocean, Photo By Brocken Inaglory – File:Venus with reflection.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5223759

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

And As We Slept

For Christmas, but also the end of Advent, to the tune FINLANDIA:

And as we slept, the sky awoke with angels;

and as we dreamed, a new world came to be.

A light shone out through clouds of death and danger,

a brand-new star to show what none had seen:

the king of kings laid helpless in a manger,

the lord of lords a gentle prince of peace.



And only they who kept the midnight vigil,

who stayed awake in weeping or at watch,

beheld the light, the new king's sign and sigil,

though what it meant their human hearts knew not—

that David's son was earth and heaven bridging—

'til angels sang that they could look on God.



And off they ran to offer up their worship,

or took the road, led onward by that star,

and fast or slow, their driving on was urgent,

for now the light shone brightly in their hearts

to show new paths, to lead them in their searching,

and bring them still in safety through the dark.



And when we wake, that light will still be shining

to draw us on, right to the manger side.

Wake us, O Lord, to see your world arriving;

awake our hearts, enkindled by your light.

Open our eyes to see you here beside us,

and keep us all forever in that sight.

Annunciation to the shepherds By Rembrandt – http://www.facebook.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50707534

The Love That Knows and Names the Stars

Riffing on some lines from Psalm 147:

The love that knows and names the stars
aflame in heaven's dome
stoops down to heal our broken hearts
and bring the exiles home.

We left behind us shattered walls
and empty, aching rooms;
love gathers us into its arms
to bear us from our tombs.

Secure and safe the house it builds
where we can dwell in peace,
and long the table love has filled,
and calls us to the feast.

And we, who lived on what we scrounged
or morsels we had begged,
sit down where bread and wine abound
and are not sent away.

For love has heard the raven's prayers
and filled the earth with food,
has known us even to our hairs,
and gives us what is good.

As if we were the very stars,
love knows and calls our names.
With its own light, love fills our hearts
and joys to see our flames.

The image is from the European Space Agency. It is listed as the LH 95 star forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The image was taken using the Hubble Space Telescope. By ESA/Hubble, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8788068

If I Have Words

If I have words, they'll silent fall;
if I have deeds, they'll crack and rust.
If I have love, then I have all,
though all I love will come to dust.

The morning light that is my hope
will blaze to noon and fade to night.
The darkness where you hold me close
will fall in time to morning's light.

But there will come unfading day,
and there will come unyielding night,
and we will see you face to face
when night and day are shining bright.

Until they come, no more to pass,
you, Lord, alone are permanent.
So while we fade, let us hold fast
to love outshining firmaments.

That by its guiding star, we walk,
and when it's hidden, still we hope;
that in the day or in the dark
we have a way; we have a home.

We spring up as the grasses here
and fade away ere evening comes,
but over us one star shines clear,
and we will blossom where it burns.

A 45-minute exposure photo of stars around Polaris, taken at Ehrenburg (Franconia, Germany), September 8, 2001 By Udo Kügel – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=929549

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

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

The Lamp

Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19

The watches of this night wear on,
and weary we our vigil keep
to wait and hail the far-off dawn—
oh, Savior, keep our hearts from sleep!

Lift up our eyes, in sorrow bowed,
and fix them on that constant star
that whispers not a word aloud
but tells your workings near and far.

Throughout the doubtful nightlong hours,
protect, oh Lord, that living flame
whose tending is beyond our pow'rs,
and by its light teach us your name.

This lamp that dances, flare and fade,
remains unshaken, patient glow,
a beacon whose unfailing aid
is hope to all the souls below.

One day this vision will be gone,
of night-sieged hope still holding fast,
to join the brighter light of dawn
when night shall be forever past.