John 6.63

 

Profitable is the word I speak and worthy of acceptance

Let us now awake from our sleep, and lift up our hearts and hands toward God in heaven...

Let us observe the appointed time of the glorious bridegroom, so that we may enter with him into his bridal chamber

Let us prepare oil for our lamps, so that we may go forth to meet him with joy

Let us put away and cast from us all uncleanness, and put on wedding garments

Let us trade with the silver we have received, so that we may be called diligent servants

Let us be constant in prayer, so that we may pass beyond the place where fear dwells

Let us purify our heart from iniquity, so that we may see the Lofty One in his glory

Let us be merciful, as it is written, so that God may have mercy upon us

Let there be peace amongst us, so that we may be called brethren of Christ

Let us hunger for justice, so that we may be satisfied from the table of his kingdom

Let us be the salt of truth, so that we do not become food for the serpent

Let us sell our possessions, and buy for ourselves the pearl, so that we may be rich

Let us lay up our treasures in heaven, so that when we arrive we may open them and have pleasure in them

Let us honor the Spirit of Christ, so that we may receive grace from him

Let us be strangers to the world, as Christ was not of it

Let us be humble and meek, so that we may inherit the land of life

Let us be constant in his service, so that he may let us serve in the abode of the saints

Let us pray his prayer in purity, so that it may have access to the Lord of majesty

Let us be sharers in his suffering, so that we may also rise up in his resurrection

Let us bear his sign upon our bodies, so that we may be delivered from the wrath to come

-Aphrahat the Persian

Silent Lover

 

What kind of person are you?

Why don’t you care enough to get involved?

All these people suffer

And my family suffers

We all suffer

But, for what—your glory?

 

Then comes the satiation

Of fingers or fists

Raised up high

 

Life together

At first so sweet

Turns into life separated

Without a choice

Or with a choice

To keep it that way 

Since the other departed

 

Help from on high is then sent

To quote and comfort 

From our lover’s book

All things work together for good

His ways are not our ways

You will never be tested 

At least not beyond what you can endure

 

I’ve heard them all

I’ve even said many

Back when magic words were the only cure

 

Thus, when silence remains the only offering

And the only assurance one receives 

Comes from incestuous prayers and esoteric incantations

That’s when it’s fair to ask new questions

About not loving or respecting the silent treatment

Or the inanity of his children

 

Proverb

 

Prayer is an interesting exercise

One talks to the person in charge

And waits

To wake up

And discover the reality

That “He” listened

“He” stooped and heard my cry

“He” delivered me from the pit

“He” showed mercy to those who feared “Him”

 

But for those who are not chosen

Yet choose nonetheless

Like chicken soup or beef stew

And commit to entertaining the fantasy

Of a “He” who loves to listen

And has many things to say

But is mute

And struggles in popularity

With only one bestseller

 

“He” is merely the residue

The excuse

The guy up high who’s qualified

And highly recommended to fix existential leaks

Better than the guy down the street 

“His” credentials cover heaven and earth

 

When they pray

They wake up to the same reality

As those who parrot proverbs

And wash in lamb’s blood

The only difference between them

Is gratitude for the exercise