John the Baptist

Poetry Lectionary Poetry – Third Sunday of Advent (Year A) December 5, 2022 5:55 amViews: 3721 With the dawn of Advent and a new church year this coming weekend, we are launching a new feature on our website, a weekly post of poetry that resonates with the lectionary readings for that week (Revised Common Lectionary). *** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 CLASSIC POEM: St. John the Baptist William Drummond THE last and greatest Herald of Heaven’s King, Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild, Among that savage brood the woods forth bring, Which he than man more harmless found and mild. His food was locusts, and what young doth spring With honey that from virgin hives distill’d; Parch’d body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing Made him appear, long since from earth exiled. There burst he forth: ‘All ye, whose hopes rely On God, with me amidst these deserts mourn; Repent, repent, and from old errors turn!’ —Who listen’d to his voice, obey’d his cry? Only the echoes, which he made relent, Rung from their marble caves ‘Repent! Repent!’ CONTEMPORARY POEM: The Joy of Knowing Your Purpose Nikki Grimes SNIPPET: Is that all there is? a familiar refrain … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]