(Concept inspired by podcast with Fr. Paul Murray)
*****

Each painting that soothes us
Or tear-springing tune
Each novel that moves us
Or gem finely hewn

Each smile we treasure
Each animal cute
Each redwood of grandeur
Or color-splashed fruit

Each sunset fantastic
Or moonrise of glory
All mountains majestic
But tell half the story

Those times we catch sight of
Some marvel and stare
Each song that enchants us
So gripping, yet fair

We find that it wounds us
And leaves us still yearning
A presence, yet absence
That quells not the churning

All visions eye-drenching
Explode, then expire
Our heart’s thirst unquenching
Our souls more require

Beneath such brief beauties
Beneath, yet above
The Bridegroom-Creator
Soft-whispers His love

With gifts, He pursues us
This Lover untiring
With loveliness woos us (1)
T’ward joy unexpiring

*****

(1) cf. Song of Songs

Thank you Jesus, source of all beauty;

reason and inspiration for the co-creation of this beauty;

sustainer of this beauty and enabler of our perception of it!

O Lord, to whom this beauty points as a sign,

may all created, temporary beauty draw us to You,

O Uncreated, Eternal, and Beautiful One…

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9)