Sunday, April 10, 2011

The greenwood , flayed

Composed following some recent sermons on Mary and Joseph.

How great the God

we worship here,

Supreme above all things.

Revealed by words,

inspired and true,

the Holy Spirit brings.

Yet see, he chose to come to earth

not as a Warrior-King.

No, born in low humility,

such is the God we sing.


The virgin finds herself with child

and bears much hurt and shame.

Now her betrothed

must hold his thoughts,

as whispered is his name.

“Oh why should this be my reward,

for all the love I gave?”

The answer comes by angel voice,

“This child is born to save!”


So Joseph trusts

God’s strange command

and leaves the Law alone.

He learns to love a child, not his,

and tends him as his own.

Within this family are found

the wounds of love and grace

as God reveals his sovereign plan

to save our human race.


A carpenter

will teach his son

the worth and way of wood;

but this Son learns a harder way

to bring our world to good.

In echo of young Joseph’s cry

hear Jesus’ anguished prayer,

“O Father, why must this be so,

their scorn I should not bear?”


Deep sorrow

hangs upon the Cross,

and nails hold fast the shame.

As Jesus bleeds his mother weeps;

his Father turns away.

Such Horror,

never has earth known,

as Jesus dies for all.

Such Love,

that gives its all for me

before him I must fall.


The greenwood, flayed

and broken down,

is laid to rest in earth;

but like a seed that’s sown in death

it springs to fruitful birth.

How great the God

we worship here,

Supreme above all things;

the child who grew at Joseph’s side

now reigns as King of Kings.

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