Lectionary Poetry – First Sunday in Lent (Year C)

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).

 
 

*** Revised Common Lectionary ***

Lectionary Reading:
Romans 10:8b-13

 
 

CLASSIC POEM:

Love is Lord of All
Boethius

Why are Nature’s changes bound
To a fixed and ordered round?
What to leaguèd peace hath bent
Every warring element?
Wherefore doth the rosy morn
Rise on Phoebus’ car upborne?
Why should Phoebe rule the night,
Led by Hesper’s guiding light?
What the power that doth restrain
In his place the restless main,
That within fixed bounds he keeps,
Nor o’er earth in deluge sweeps?
Love it is that holds the chains,
Love o’er sea and earth that reigns;
Love–whom else but sovereign Love?–
Love, high lord in heaven above!
Yet should he his care remit,
All that now so close is knit
In sweet love and holy peace,
Would no more from conflict cease,
But with strife’s rude shock and jar
All the world’s fair fabric mar.

Tribes and nations Love unites
By just treaty’s sacred rites;
Wedlock’s bonds he sanctifies
By affection’s softest ties.
Love appointeth, as is due,
Faithful laws to comrades true–
Love, all-sovereign Love!–oh, then,
Ye are blest, ye sons of men,
If the love that rules the sky
In your hearts is throned on high!

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

CONTEMPORARY POEM:

I find you, Lord, in all Things
Rainer Maria Rilke

SNIPPET:

I find you, Lord, in all Things and in all
my fellow creatures, pulsing with your life;
…

[ READ THE FULL POEM ]

 
 

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