“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

“For we observed his star at its rising…” – Matthew 2:2

Star-Creator discovered beneath a star,
Planet-Former found over the curve of Earth,
Human-Shaper nurtured in the womb of Mary,
All-Embracer wrapped in mother’s tears:

Shine upon us.

Monarch-Ruler fleeing from a king,
Word-Incarnate lacking human speech,
Life-Light needing one to testify,
All-Knowing yet unknown:

Shine upon us.

Spirit-Eternal in human flesh,
Glory-Unbounded with a weary face,
Life-Everlasting corpse upon a cross,
Love-Transcendent unrecognized in a garden:

Shine upon us.

A poem/prayer based on John 1:1-18, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year C, Second Sunday after Christmas, and Matthew 2:1-12, the RCL Gospel Reading for Epiphany.

Photo by Eric Anderson.