Rhythm of Redemption

Out of the ruin of ages, without hope, without
Life, rose a rhythm of redemption! Grace
Wrapped in skin, shone forth … in that holy night;
Eternity was born:–Almightiness
Veiled as Mary’s boy, to tread our fallen earth.

From that cradle of humble crust emerged
The Human One, yet a better
Adam–God-With-Us, disguised
As frail clay. Eternity
Reduced to humility, lived
As man as God, as
G.o.d. as man, as
Man as man, as
God as G.o.d. Too heaven, too human–
Fullnesses of G.o.d. in helpless flesh.

… Three decades. And three. And half.–

Time–,

That the Finger that sketched time and life
Learned toil, ate bread, and
Grew toward the crux. Love unbreakable, wore
Our skin, shambled to the Cross, where Glory
Groaned! Dark day! Droopy time! Too
Heavy. Sacred Head–cursed, mocked, wept until
‘Tis finished,”–sank at sunset.

Death had a guest; Hell melted, conquered, in three
Days! Earth quaked, with each gaze! Forces of
Darkness in chains; suspense was suspended–
The glorious hour He arose! Stones surrendered the
Maker’s path at the third … History grew …
A new age–Existence slipped into adoption.

Now embrace we Thy Father’s endless love!
What syntax can suffice for that ransom? For
From breath to breath–our phrases collapse; yet
Thine amazing Grace doth translate our stam-
mering! We shall borrow a billion tongues to declare
Thy Praise, Almighty … Truth! Thus, let Thy
Word shield us in the world of trouble! And let
None that calleth upon Thy name
End in shame. AMEN.