Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 12/14

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Today (December 14) is the feast of Saint John of the Cross, a 16th century priest, poet and mystic.  Today's prayer flows from his words found in this perfect Advent poem.

    If you want,
    the Virgin Mary will come walking down the road to you,
    pregnant with the holy,
    and she will say to you,

     “I need shelter for the night –

    please take me inside your heart -
    my time is so close.”

    Then, under the roof of your soul,

    you will witness

    the sublime intimacy,

    the divine,

    the Christ
    taking birth forever,
    as Mary grasps your hand for help:

    for each of us
    is the midwife of God - each of us…

    Yet there, under the dome of your being,

    does creation come into existence eternally,

    through your womb, dear pilgrim --
    the sacred womb in your soul --

    as God grasps your arms for help;

    for each of us is His beloved servant,
    never 
far…

    If you want,

    the Virgin Mary will come walking down the street

    pregnant with Light   

    -  and she will sing...

    Translation by Daniel Ladinsky in Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the

    East and West

Pause for Prayer

 

For each of us the midwife of God - each of us... 

 

You were born in Bethlehem, Lord, 

over 2,000 years ago,

and I know you won't be born again 

on December 25th - and yet -

on every day, in every age

you take flesh,

you dwell among us and within us,

you're incarnate in my neighbor,

friend and foe, indeed we know 

that all creation daily groans*

in the pains of childbirth... 

 

Then, be delivered in my world, Lord:

in my home and on my street, 

where I live and work and play...

 

Be delivered in the flesh and blood

of all I meet and know

and how we care for one another....

Be delivered in my self, Lord,

in my thoughts and words and deeds,

in my plans and hopes and dreams...

 

Be delivered in creation,

in its beauty, power and glory

all entrusted to our care...

 

Make us midwives of your coming, 

faithful doulas of your presence

born anew with every dawn...

Amen.

 *Romans 8:26

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