Shepherd's Question

"And Jesus answered them: 'Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and
the deaf hear and the dead are raised up and the poor have the good news
preached to them.'" Matt 11:4-5

Father,

You, the Maker of all: sky, sea and soil;
Grace me as I kneel with the shepherds.

And, together ask:
Who is this Child? On straw? In a stable?
This Smiling Lamb?

He is our Saviour
Who will rescue us
From the blind of sin's smoke
And restore us to a breathing -soul.

He is our King
Who will lead us
From a lame and crippled world
To walk in grace's Kingdom.

He is our Messiah
Who will free us
From the tyranny 
Of the flesh's authority and
The night chills of mid-night anguish.

He is our Resurrection
Who will raise us
Out of the embalmed dark of soul death
To an awake life with the spirit of soul-youth.

Father,

Open my ears to hear
The bells peal of Christ's coming --

Your Right Hand
Who will rule over nations;

Your Answer
To the longing poverty
Within our souls.