Advent Poems 2014

This project began as personal reflection during Advent and evolved into something I shared throughout the season. Each day in December I read the scripture passages allotted by the lectionary. Flipping back and forth between pages, my meditation on the words led to penning brief amalgamations of language and imagery – short verses birthed by biblical poetry and prose. I also snapped a photo each day that captured the sentiment of each piece.

Wandering deeper into the season I began to notice the great intention of the lectionary’s selection, as well as arterial themes weaved throughout the biblical story. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Profound as it was to think on the brilliance and beauty of scriptural congruency, experiencing the guidance of God’s Spirit along the way was the real treat. Though these scriblings are obviously not inspired like the scriptures are, they were certainly inspired by them.

My simple hope in sharing this is to encourage you to venture into the scriptures for yourself. To discover what so many have found so meaningful season after season and what the Advent arranges before us: hope, peace, joy and love.

One (Psalm 79, Micah 4.1-5, Revelation 15.1-8) Though daily doomed. A peaceful path precedes us. The Almighty has forged it.
One (Psalm 79, Micah 4.1-5, Revelation 15.1-8)
Though daily doomed.
A peaceful path precedes us.
The Almighty has forged it.

 

Two (Psalm 79, Micah 4.6-13, Revelation 18.1-10) Does compassion not rush to the widow?
 Will the just and kind lack company?
 At last! The lowly are lifted, 
But the palace of pride laments.
Two (Psalm 79, Micah 4.6-13, Revelation 18.1-10)
Does compassion not rush to the widow?

Will the just and kind lack company?

At last! The lowly are lifted,

But the palace of pride laments.

 

Three (Psalm 79, Micah 5.1-5a, Luke 21.34-38) The Shepherd pastures bloodied sheep, 
And feeds them in the morn.
 Eternal One is now their peace, Deliverer is born!
Three (Psalm 79, Micah 5.1-5a, Luke 21.34-38)
The Shepherd pastures bloodied sheep,

And feeds them in the morn.

Eternal One is now their peace,
Deliverer is born!

 

Four (Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, Hosea 6.1-6, 1 Thessalonians 1.2-10) The morning mist is fast repealing,
 And early dew will melt away. 
On painful paths we meet our healing, 
 Where word of dawn has bid us stay.
Four (Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, Hosea 6.1-6, 1 Thessalonians 1.2-10)
The morning mist is fast repealing,

And early dew will melt away.

On painful paths we meet our healing, 

Where word of dawn has bid us stay.

 

Five (Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, Jeremiah 1.4-10, Acts 11.19-26) Good Giver graces
 Any earth his Speech is sent 
 Where ears are open.
Five (Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, Jeremiah 1.4-10, Acts 11.19-26)
Good Giver graces

Any earth his Speech is sent 

Where ears are open.

 

Six (Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, Ezekiel 36.24-28, Mark 11.27-33) When love and truth kissed
 This stone-made heart turned tissue
 My folly baptized.
Six (Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, Ezekiel 36.24-28, Mark 11.27-33)
When love and truth kissed

This stone-made heart turned tissue

My folly baptized.

 

Seven (Isaiah 40.1-11, Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3.8-15a, Mark 1.1-8) A thousand years - a day will pass 
For patient Sons called dear.
 Salvation will spring up like grass
 When Comforter comes near.
Seven (Isaiah 40.1-11, Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13, 2 Peter 3.8-15a, Mark 1.1-8)
A thousand years – a day will pass

For patient Sons called dear.

Salvation will spring up like grass

When Comforter comes near.

 

Eight (Psalm 27, Isaiah 26.7-15, Acts 2.37-42) Despair extinguished 
 On nights my dark soul longs for
 A forgiving charge.
Eight (Psalm 27, Isaiah 26.7-15, Acts 2.37-42)
Despair extinguished 

On nights my dark soul longs for

A forgiving charge.

 

Nine (Psalm 27, Isaiah 4.2-6, Acts 11.1-18) Living lands are long promised 
 To branches bruised and banished. 
 And many more, blanketed in grace,
 Will find themselves re-grafted.
Nine (Psalm 27, Isaiah 4.2-6, Acts 11.1-18)
Living lands are long promised 

To branches bruised and banished. 

And many more, blanketed in grace,

Will find themselves re-grafted.

 

Ten (Psalm 27, Malachi 2.10-31, Luke 1.5-17) God's House is our House 
 The Temple tabernacled
 Whom we prepare for.
Ten (Psalm 27, Malachi 2.10-31, Luke 1.5-17)
God’s House is our House 

The Temple tabernacled

Whom we prepare for.

 

Eleven (Psalm 126, Habakkuk 2.1-5, Philippians 3.7-10) Though sowing sadness
 Our fellowship of resurrection nears.
 Joy tarries temporarily!
Eleven (Psalm 126, Habakkuk 2.1-5, Philippians 3.7-10)
Though sowing sadness

Our fellowship of resurrection nears.

Joy tarries temporarily!

 

Twelve (Psalm 126, Habakkuk 3.2-6, Philippians 3.12-16) The LORD makes us laugh.
 His splendour is like sunlight. 
Let us stand in it.
Twelve (Psalm 126, Habakkuk 3.2-6, Philippians 3.12-16)
The LORD makes us laugh.

His splendour is like sunlight.

Let us stand in it.

 

Thirteen (Psalm 126, Habakkuk 3.13-19, Matthew 21.28-32) Once captive now I 
 Rejoice to work in 
 My Father's vineyard.
Thirteen (Psalm 126, Habakkuk 3.13-19, Matthew 21.28-32)
Once captive now I 

Rejoice to work in 

My Father’s vineyard.

 

Fourteen (Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, Luke 1.46b-55, 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24) Blessed as brides and grooms
 Are the broken-hearted ones!
 Happy and joyful 
Are the hungry and humble!
 Thanking forever 
 The faithful, long-predicted 
 Producer of light.
Fourteen (Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, Luke 1.46b-55, 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24)
Blessed as brides and grooms

Are the broken-hearted ones!

Happy and joyful 
Are the hungry and humble!

Thanking forever 

The faithful, long-predicted 

Producer of light.

 

Fifteen (Psalm 125, 1 Kings 18.1-18, Ephesians 6.10-17) Safely encircled 
 Are those in Spirit-armour 
 Mountains surround them.
Fifteen (Psalm 125, 1 Kings 18.1-18, Ephesians 6.10-17)
Safely encircled 

Are those in Spirit-armour 

Mountains surround them.

 

Sixteen (Psalm 125, 2 Kings 2.9-22, Acts 3.17-44) Nomads, prophets, kings
 Travail to trust the One who
 Blesses by service.
 All who heed his humble way
 Find their promised land.
Sixteen (Psalm 125, 2 Kings 2.9-22, Acts 3.17-44)
Nomads, prophets, kings

Travail to trust the One who

Blesses by service.

All who heed his humble way

Find their promised land.

 

Seventeen (Psalm 125, Malachi 3.16-4.6, Mark 9.9-13) Peace on My good people
 On whom the righteous sun rises 
With healing in its wings At the restoration of it all.
Seventeen (Psalm 125, Malachi 3.16-4.6, Mark 9.9-13)
Peace on My good people

On whom the righteous sun rises

With healing in its wings
At the restoration of it all.

 

Eighteen (Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26, 2 Samuel 6.1-11, Hebrews 1.1-4) Though couched in lovingkindness 
 The king is right to quake in
 The company of One who 
Makes visible the invisible
 A might unmatched.
Eighteen (Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26, 2 Samuel 6.1-11, Hebrews 1.1-4)
Though couched in lovingkindness 

The king is right to quake in

The company of One who

Makes visible the invisible

A might unmatched.

 

Nineteen (Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26, 2 Samuel 6. 12-19, Hebrews 1.5-14) Salvation songs flow
 With the oil of gladness when
 Dignity is shed.
Nineteen (Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26, 2 Samuel 6. 12-19, Hebrews 1.5-14)
Salvation songs flow

With the oil of gladness when

Dignity is shed.

 

Twenty (Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26, Judges 13.2-24, John 7.40-52) The Son stronger than 
 Sampson is of Jessie's line 
 Bethlehem's true King.
Twenty (Psalm 89.1-4, 19-26, Judges 13.2-24, John 7.40-52)
The Son stronger than 

Sampson is of Jessie’s line 

Bethlehem’s true King.

 

Twenty-One (Psalm 96, Zephaniah 3.8-13, Romans 10.5-13) The home of the Most High is 
 A house built as we house him
 A dwelling blessed
 On salvation's rock
 With room for all.
Twenty-One (Psalm 96, Zephaniah 3.8-13, Romans 10.5-13)
The home of the Most High is 

A house built as we house him

A dwelling blessed

On salvation’s rock

With room for all.

 

Twenty-Two (Psalm 96, Zephaniah 3.14-20, Romans 13.11-14) Heaven is happy 
 And the earth rejoices as 
Night wanes and Light nears.
Twenty-Two (Psalm 96, Zephaniah 3.14-20, Romans 13.11-14)
Heaven is happy 

And the earth rejoices as

Night wanes and Light nears.

 

Twenty-Three (Psalm 96, Ecclesiastes 3.1-8, James 1.17-18) Sing of good tidings 
The appointed time is near
 Father gives his Word.
Twenty-Three (Psalm 96, Ecclesiastes 3.1-8, James 1.17-18)
Sing of good tidings

The appointed time is near

Father gives his Word.

 

Twenty-Four (Isaiah 9.2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2.11-14, Luke 2.1-14) A Child is given
 A Son counted among us 
Though unlike any.

 He blesses with hope
 And banishes fear for all
 Who call him their own.
Twenty-Four (Isaiah 9.2-7, Psalm 96, Titus 2.11-14, Luke 2.1-14)
A Child is given

A Son counted among us

Though unlike any.


He blesses with hope

And banishes fear for all

Who call him their own.
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