"Homilist" timothy r gates, 2/10/2013
The word in stories from ages past,
we sing.
Joining these psalms to our songs
antiphonal melodies,
dance in tones our ancient family
sang, and sing.
Letters from reposed friends,
like the parchments arrived today,
we chant.
The gospel word,.
narratives about
the Word,
we attend.
Then we step into
his space,
the ambo offers us, "be still" -
inside we tremble,
"He increases,
my I am walks into his."
Calmed, we begin to
speak,
praying within,
"Lord, let me be an instrument of
your peace."
Here, an Icon of the Word
attempts to share
what we have intoned
what we have joined in song
what we have chanted in word -
what we now walk through at these doors,
"Today, the kingdom is in us!"
We step away,
a little worn,
with a quiet smile,
grateful having strolled
with him
"in the cool breeze
of the garden,"
where the dew has known
it is always morning.
The Word whispers,
"good enough,
move into our next offering,"
like Solomon's beloved,
well spent
yet freely standing.