Liturgical Year - B

A Poem a Sunday

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The Church is called out to be a counter cultural community.  The Liturgical Church Year is one way in which the Church lives into its calling.  Instead of marking time linearly via the Julian calendar of the Empire, the Church marks time cyclically with the Church Year.  This coming Sunday the new Church Year begins with the Season of Advent – recalling events that prepare us for the birth of Christ.

The purpose of this blog is to offer an original poem reflecting on the Revised Common Lectionary’s appointed Gospel for each Sunday.  Whether or not it is good poetry is irrelevant because it is meant to be provocative, solicit fresh images, and release the imagination of the preacher and parishioner as each prepare to share and hear the proclamation of the Gospel. 

These poems will sometimes travel the edges of the text and other times even challenge and argue with the appointed Gospel all in attempt to give a different angle on the reading.

So, please take time to reflect on the Gospel and the poem.  Share with others and contact me if you ever want to use the poem. 

Blessings to you as we begin a new Church Year,

Rev. Kenneth R. Storck

kennstorck@gmail.com

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Gospel Reading & Poem

A Poem a Sunday

Advent – I - B

December 3, 2017

Advent Lament

Mark 13:24-37 - NRSV

 The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,
25 and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he[a] is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert;[b] for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Footnotes:

[a] Mark 13:29 Or it

[b] Mark 13:33 Other ancient authorities add and pray

A Poem a Sunday

Advent I – B

Advent Lament

Weary of pretending

about some science-fiction

like ending

when the stars fall

from the heavens

and God will get even

with all the evil people.

Weary of last judgments

with all those hints

or signs of the times

which happen endlessly:

war and rumors thereof.

Where is the peace dove

and God’s eternal love?

Weary of waiting and wondering

why God is taking so long to bring

in the Kingdom

“How long, Oh God,

do we wait? Or is it only the fate

of clowns at the gate

looking for Godot.”

Weary of believing

the wrath of God is steaming

and ready to blow a gasket

when Amos’s fruit basket

is ripe for the picking

and the wealthy take a licking

but our Timex keeps on ticking.

Weary of such advents

when seldom there are hints

of humble lowly service

and people just get nervous

with all the Christmas shopping

and parishioners complaining:

“No Christmas hymns ‘til late December!”

…on that Eve when we remember

the birth of our Savior.

But will it change our behavior?

Copyright 2017 @A Poem a Sunday

May be used with permission

kennstorck@gmail.com