Saints of God…
the Lord be with you!
Instead of my usual letter, this October, alongside our recent celebrations of the 800th Anniversary of the Transitus, I wish to share with you a poem inspired by the scholarship of Michael D. Guinan, OFM and his 2006 book, The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John, which had an emphasis on the San Damiano Crucifix. I hope you might find some time this week to pray with this poem, while viewing this image of the San Damiano Cross:
Your Church O Christ,
Is gloriously cruciform in shape,
Firmly planted in the earth,
Reaching up and reaching out (John 3:14-17; 12: 32)
And in the reaching I’ll be changed.
On cloth stretched as if skin,
One unknown
Painted an image of the Image.
Not dogma or decree,
YOU,
Living Word made Living flesh
Among us, dying and for us rising,
Loom large and stand central.
Eyes wide open and unblinking
See all there is to see.
Your face
In mercy veiled,
Hallowed and haloed (John 14:9; 17:1-5)
With darkened glory, (John 12:20-24; 12:44-47)
Is made soft and sweet for our sake.
Hands nail pierced, (John 19:18)
Open wide and pictured for me as
Orans- postured for prayer given and received, (John 17:1-26; 19: 26-30; Luke 23:34-46)
While Life’s Blood
Spills forth,
Drop by sacred drop,
Marking and making clean those friends of Yours named saints:
Greek and Jew (John 12:20-21)
Female and male, (John 19:25-27; Luke 23:47)
Now on equal plane,
All enlightened and embraced,
Given shelter in Your grace
By arms outstretched.
Side split open like a darkened tomb, (John 19:32-34)
Or a fruitful womb,
Entices exit or entry.
Humbly clothed for modesty’s sake
In gold trimmed robe of a great
high priest (John 13:3-5; 19:23-25)
Who now makes Himself the greatest sacrifice.
And hidden in the shadows
A rooster crows half hidden in the shadows. (Luke 22:55-62)
You can choose:
Herald of day or
Harbinger of another great denial?
Sacred feet nailed to a darkened world
Or simple table made sacred altar (John 13:1-7; Luke 22:14-20)
Offer no chance for escape
Even if You would.
While up above,
Victorious,
And royally robed,
You ascend step by step,
To whence You came. (Luke 24:50-51)
Greater than and surpassing
Any posted kingly glory. (John 19:19-22)
Clothed now in human nature (John 1:1-5, 14)
You seem turned toward and
Greeted by mortals
While angels smile serenely and merely look on.
Embraced once more
By Your Father’s Godly right hand,
From Whom yet through You
All blessings and forgiveness flow.
All around,
Myriad of angels point and beckon
For us of no or little faith,
Now standing beneath
Your gloried wooden throne,
“Come and see.”
– Fr. Steve
