Repentance

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 CLASSIC POEM: Repentance George Herbert Lord, I confesse my sinne is great; Great is my sinne. Oh! gently treat With thy quick flow’r, thy momentarie bloom; Whose life still pressing Is one undressing, A steadie aiming at a tombe. Mans age is two houres work, or three: Each day doth round about us see. Thus are we to delights: but we are all To sorrows old, If like be told From what life feeleth, Adams fall. O let thy height of mercie then Compassionate short-breathed men. Cut me not off for my most foul transgression: I do confesse My foolishnesse; My God, accept of my confession. Sweeten at length this bitter bowl, Which thou hast pour’d into my soul; Thy wormwood turn to health, windes to fair weather: For if thou stay, I and this day, As we did rise, we die together. When thou for sinne rebukest man, Forthwith he waxeth wo and wan: Bitternesse fills our bowels; all our hearts Pine, and decay, And drop away, And carrie with them th’ other parts. But thou wilt sinne and grief destroy; That so the broken bones may joy, And tune together in a well-set song, Full of his praises, Who dead men raises. Fractures well cur’d make us more strong. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Repentance Natasha Trethewey SNIPPET: To make it right Vermeer painted then painted over this scene a woman alone at a table the cloth pushed back rough folds at the edge as if someone had risen in haste abandoning the chair beside her … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]