At Bethany

Source: wallhere.com
From the sanctum of your home
you come closer to the hearth
with terra cotta jar exhaling nard
and hands aflame with frankincense.

In the slow, tender burn of anointing,
your body also becomes scented
and the grace you have long walked with
is crowned by dawn’s ruddy light
reflecting off the high windows
of Jerusalem.

Blessed are you for blessing,
and rich for emptying your purse.
A messiah readied prepares you
with hands aflame with love and pain.

Your skin—beautiful, thirsty desert—
draws in the oil that pools on his.
This the earliest Eucharist.
This a most divine exchange.

Greg Kennedy, SJ works as a spiritual director at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario. He is author of Reupholstered Psalms volumes I, II, and III; and Amazing Friendships between Animals and Saints (Novalis Press).

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4 Comments
  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 03:24h, 29 October Reply

    Thank you Greg!

  • Sharon Walters
    Posted at 08:22h, 29 October Reply

    Absolutely beautiful!

  • Maria Skarzynski
    Posted at 12:42h, 29 October Reply

    Strengthens the faith – thank you Father Greg!

  • Zenaida Ricafrente
    Posted at 15:33h, 05 November Reply

    Hi Fr. Greg,

    Thank God for your poetic charism. Even more than this is the elevation of St. Anne to a Queen. The whole poetry speaks to my community – The Contemplative Women of St. Anne. It started > five years ago with St Basil’s (Bay/St. Joseph Streets) as our monthly gathering space. We are under the guardianship of His Grace Kasun who is on his recovery from his treatment. So now I make a request. Your creative gift poetically can amplify St. Anne’s patronship to our community by contemplating it not exactly how you did. We will contemplate it according to the prompt of the Holy Spirit.

    Much appreciated,
    Zeny
    Our Lady of Lourdes
    Development and Peace Movement

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