Poetry

Lectionary Poetry – 11th Sunday After Pentecost (Year A)

With the dawn of a new church year, we have launched a new feature on our website, a weekly post of poetry that resonates with the lectionary readings for that week (Revised Common Lectionary).

Lectionary Reading: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

CLASSIC POEM:

Mercy
William Shakespeare

from The Merchant of Venice

The quality of mercy is not strain’d;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
’Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.

*** This poem is in the public domain,
  and may be read in a live-streamed worship service.

CONTEMPORARY POEM:

Oh Great Spirit
Deena Metzger

SNIPPET:

Oh Great Spirit. Heal the animals. Protect the animals. Restore the
animals.

Our lives will also be healed. Our souls will be protected. Our
spirits will be restored.

[ READ THE FULL POEM ]

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