Defeated

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Psalm 103:1-13 CLASSIC POEM: Defeated Sophie Jewett When the last fight is lost, the last sword broken; The last call sounded, the last order spoken; When from the field where braver hearts lie sleeping, Faint, and athirst, and blinded, I come creeping, With not one waving shred of palm to bring you, With not one splendid battle-song to sing you, O Love, in my dishonor and defeat, Your measureless compassion will be sweet. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: On Thy Wondrous Works I Will Meditate [Excerpt] Mary Oliver SNIPPET: … 4. How many mysteries have you seen in your lifetime? How many nets pulled full over the boat’s side, each silver body ready or not falling into submission? How many roses in early summer uncurling above the pale sands then falling back in unfathomable willingness? And what can you say? Glory to the rose and the leaf, to the seed, to the silver fish. Glory to time and the wild fields, and to joy. And to grief’s shock and torpor, its near swoon. 5. So it is not hard to understand where God’s body is, it is everywhere and everything; shore and the vast fields of water, the accidental and the intended over here, over there. And I bow down participate and attentive it is so dense and apparent. And all the same I am still unsatisfied. Standing here, now, I am thinking not of His thick wrists and His blue shoulders but, still, of Him. Where, do you suppose, is His page and wonderful mind? … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]