Abba I am yours,
I am your beloved son,
I am your precious child,
(To You I have been reconciled)
Jesus I am yours,
I am your beloved brother,
I am your precious bride,
(In You I live and move and abide!)
Spirit I am yours,
I am your beloved servant,
I am your precious charge,
(My mind enlighten, my heart enlarge)
Mary I am yours,
I am your beloved hijo,
I am your precious little one,
(Please help me fall in love with your Son)
What’s the meaning of life?
In a phrase: To love and to be loved
In a word: Love.
Who is God’s love-made-visible, God’s love-made-hearable, God’s love-made-lovable?
In a phrase: God’s only Son
In a word: Jesus.
Why are we here?
In a phrase: to fall in love… with God and with one another
In a word: God.
What is the church?
In a phrase: The Bride called by the Bridegroom to his wedding banquet
In a word: the Bride.
What is the Bride’s mission?
In a phrase: to introduce all to the Bridegroom, and invite all to his banquet
In a word: Evangelization.
What is the “word on the street” about the Word-made-flesh?
In a phrase:
He’s someone-who-must-not-be-mentioned-in-polite-conversation
He’s only one way to heaven, one truth, one life
He’s just a crucified carpenter from Nazareth
In a word:
Liar/lunatic/legend.
Guru.
Revolutionary.
What’s the word that the Word’s Bride must broadcast in the streets?
In a phrase:
Jesus is risen and lives again
Jesus is the unseen Guest at every table, the unseen Friend of every lonely heart, the unseen Lover of every soul
Jesus is joy, peace, and mercy for all who trust in him
Jesus is the fulfillment of all desire
Jesus is the Bread of Life
Jesus is THE Way to heaven, THE Truth, THE Life (Jn 14:6)
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
In a word:
Lord, God, King, Head, Alpha, Omega, Son, Word, Bridegroom, Savior, Christ, Messiah, Crucified-One, Risen-One, Lion, Lamb, Light, Vine, Gate, Shepherd, Bread, Water, Physician, Life-giver, Forgiver, Judge, Friend, Guest, Lover, Peace, Joy, Mercy, LOVE.
What’s this poem’s point?
In a phrase:
Jesus is God’s love-made-visible, God’s love-made-hearable, God’s love-made-lovable!
In a word:
He’s LOVE.
Will LOVE be loved in return… by you?
Dear Lord, let me partake in your redemption of lost sheep
by off’ring you my suffering and every tear I weep
Please take my pain, transform it into grace for souls in danger
who’ve yet to find forgiveness through the Child born in-a manger
I offer you this grief from ________’s death which my heart breaks
for all who grieve without the hope Christ offers for our sakes
I offer you this biting of my tongue when I’m insulted
for people who react to hate with words fierce lightning-bolted
This chilliness I offer up for all the cold of heart
who only care about themselves and from you keep apart
I offer this discomfort – Phew! – of weather sticky hot
for folks at risk of choosing hell where “worm” and “flame” die not (Mk 9:48)
I offer this annoyance Lord of waiting in this line
for folks that see annoyances as times to gripe and whine
I offer you this anger Lord as I seek to forgive
for all in “jails” of unforgiveness, choosing there to live
I offer you my hunger Lord for all with hunger true
who aren’t aware they hunger for the love that comes from you
I offer you my thirst, parched throat, this yearning for cold drink
for folks who aren’t aware that your deep thirst for them won’t shrink
I offer you this headache – Ouch! – and every wincing pain
for folks with heads chock-full of TV’s lies so dark and vain
I offer you this vertigo and nauseous dizzy spell
for all who totter dang’rously along the brink of hell
Please take the water of my pain, transform it into Wine
then give this wine to wayward souls in need of Grace divine
Remind me Lord to offer you my su-ffer-ings each day
my life “a living sacrifice” of love for You I pray. Amen!
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 