O Emmanuel

I wrote this poem for December 23, the day we pray the final O Antiphon: "O Enmmanuel, our King, hope of the nations and Savior of all peoples: come to deliver us, Lord, do not delay; come, Lord, come to save us." It seems like an appropriate poem for Christmas Eve as well. Blessings!

         O Emmanuel

          O Emmanuel

          Living icon of God among us

          Mewling infant,

               feeding at the breast

          Learning early

               the rootlessness of a refugee

                      and the rootedness

                  of trust in Yahweh

  

                   

                    Exhibiting teenage impatience

                      with parents who honestly

                              just don’t get

                        who you really are

     

                    Earning your daily bread

                         as a laborer

                      and feeding at night

                            on your love

                                of the word

                    Showing us the image

                    of a God who breathes,

                       learns, teaches,

                          smiles, heals,

                    suffers

                    And whose love

                       death cannot contain

                    O Emmanuel

                        teach us how to write

                            our own icon of God

                        using the stuff of our lives

                    and our deepest imaginings    

                    Remind us in all our unfoldings

                       You are here

                            You are with us

                                We are one