Sharon’s Christmas Prayer

She was five,

     sure of the facts,

     and recited them

     with slow solemnity

     convinced every word

was revelation.

     She said

they were so poor

they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

to eat

and they went a long way from home

without getting lost.  The lady rode

a donkey, the man walked, and the baby

was inside the lady.

They had to stay in a stable

with an ox and an ass (hee-hee)

but the Three Rich Men found them

because a star lited the roof

Shepherds came and you could

pet the sheep but not feed them.

Then the baby was borned.

And do you know who he was?

     Her quarter eyes inflated

     to silver dollars.

The baby was God.

 

     And she jumped in the air

     whirled round, dove into the sofa

     and buried her head under the cushion

     which is the only proper response

     to the Good News of the Incarnation.

 

John Shea

 

A blessed Christmas to all.

4 Comments
  • Nancy Rappaport

    December 23, 2017at9:58 am Reply

    And the baby was inside the lady . The most powerful demonstration of this devotion is Black nativity in Boston with African drumming with the birth and Langston Hughes poem put to amazing music . Go see if you can .

    • kathleen.hirsch

      December 23, 2017at10:04 am Reply

      I’ve seen it and it IS amazing! Thanks so much, Nancy! Enjoy your snowscapes in CO!

  • Sue O'Reilly

    December 23, 2017at7:46 am Reply

    I love John Shea! Once I took a class with him at Maryknoll. He was brilliant.
    My final thoughts on Advent:
    The first purple candle was for settling into Advent with a commitment to silence and quieting. The second purple candle was for participating in an 8 day silent Advent retreat steeped in ritual, reflection and stillness. The pink candle was for the final weekend of Advent retreat where a team of three gift musicians and spiritualists led us through a rich tapestry of liturgical prayer with exquisite song and Taize chant which left our hearts singing and hopeful. The last purple candle was for returning home to the world and trying to hold the stillness and joy. Incarnation!
    Thank you, Kathleen, for gently and beautifully leading us through this year’s Advent journey. And I enjoyed all the art work which you paired with your reflections.
    Blessings!

    • kathleen.hirsch

      December 23, 2017at10:03 am Reply

      Dear Sue, It sounds as if you have traveled through Advent in a most blessed and intentional way. I salute you and am so grateful for the wisdom you have shared from your journey with us this season. May you Christmas be filled with light!

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