Fasting

Poetry Lectionary Poetry – Fifth Sunday of Epiphany (Year A) January 30, 2023 1:17 pmViews: 1023 Lectionary Poetry Advent Each week we carefully curate a collection of poems that resonate with the lectionary readings for that week (Narrative Lectionary and Revised Common Lectionary). Lectionary Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12 CLASSIC POEM: Fasting Rumi There’s hidden sweetness in the stomach’s emptiness. We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music. If the brain and belly are burning clean with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire. The fog clears, and new energy makes you run up the steps in front of you. Be emptier and cry like reed instruments cry. Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen. When you’re full of food and drink, Satan sits where your spirit should, an ugly metal statue in place of the Kaaba. When you fast, good habits gather like friends who want to help. Fasting is Solomon’s ring. Don’t give it to some illusion and lose your power, but even if you have, if you’ve lost all will and control, they come back when you fast, like soldiers appearing out of the ground, pennants flying above them. A table descends to your tents, Jesus’ table. Expect to see it, when you fast, this table spread with other food, better than the broth of cabbages. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: Fasting on Tunis Leila Chatti SNIPPET: … The ocean eats and eats at the sand and still hungers. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]