Christmas Prayer

I went to the grocery store early this morning to purchase ingredients for my Christmas dinner cooking.  I arrived home and arrived at the church early for morning mass.  I finished my morning prayers and began to read the poetry at the back of the missal.  In the quiet of the church, I slowly read poems, with my underlines, and they became a prayer in themselves:

 

Love

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked anything.

“A guest,” I answered, “worthy to be here.”
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I, the unkind, ungrateful?  Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes but I?”

“Truth, Lord, but I have marred them; let my shame,
Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”
“My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down,” says Love, “and taste my meat.”
So I did sit and eat.

-  George Herbert

 

Lead, Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those Angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

-          J. H. Newman

-           

I see that cold blustery weather approaches starting tomorrow.  It was a blessing I finished my shopping today.  My next few days may be limited to the nearby church, which will be my home --- until He arrives and we celebrate on Sunday.