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This resource relating to Ephesians 4:1-16 provides a poem by Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022) highlighting our union with Christ reflected in our lives and a poem by Lucille Clifton (1936-2010) highlighting rebirth.
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Lectionary:
Revised Common Lectionary
Source:
Englewood Review
Related to Children or Youth:
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Audio/Video:
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Full Text:
*** Revised Common Lectionary ***
Lectionary Reading:
Ephesians 4:1-16
CLASSIC POEM:
Christ’s Body
St. Symeon the New Theologian
We awaken in Christ’s body,
As Christ awakens our bodies
There I look down and my poor hand is Christ,
He enters my foot and is infinitely me.
I move my hand and wonderfully
My hand becomes Christ,
Becomes all of Him.
I move my foot and at once
He appears in a flash of lightning.
Do my words seem blasphemous to you?
—Then open your heart to him.
And let yourself receive the one
Who is opening to you so deeply.
For if we genuinely love Him,
We wake up inside Christ’s body
Where all our body all over,
Every most hidden part of it,
Is realized in joy as Him,
And He makes us utterly real.
And everything that is hurt, everything
That seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful,
Maimed, ugly, irreparably damaged
Is in Him transformed.
And in Him, recognized as whole, as lovely,
And radiant in His light,
We awaken as the beloved
In every last part of our body.
CONTEMPORARY POEM:
Spring Song
Lucille Clifton
SNIPPET:
the green of Jesus
is breaking the ground
…
[ READ THE FULL POEM ]
Content Type:
Key Scriptures:
Ephesians 4:1-16
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RCL Lectionary Week:
Year B Proper 13 (Ordinary Time 18)