Second Wednesday of Advent

Read 2nd Thessalonians 1:1-12; John 7:53-8:11

          waiting

our hearts are hardened
   our eyes peeled for transgressors,
      our pockets full of rocks,
we're ready
   and waiting
      for your return:
at the head of that
mighty band of angels
      dressed in burnished armor,
   carrying sharp-edged axes,
            unleashing volcanos of flames,
      unfolding the leaked documents
      where all the names are listed . . .

so come!

come,
   kneeling down
   to gently write words like
      'compassion,'
            'mercy,'
                  'beloved'
   in the dirt floors of our
         hearts;

come,
   to look us in the eye,
      staring deeply into
            our souls,
   and, finding, the seeds of
            hope
      buried there, water
         them with your tears;

come,
   to whisper the words
      which only you can
               speak,
and only we can hear,
      and we will go,
   giving thanks to God
            for you,
always.

(c) 2010 Thom M. Shuman