Advent 3
Poems
A GOSPEL TREASURY
Poems Based on Lectionary Gospels
There are many men seek power
and pursue it all their lives,
while another man seeks glory
and for it he always strives.
For John, Baptizer, neither one
was what in life he sought.
‘Twas shown by what he practiced
just as well as what he taught.
Out in the wilderness he called
the people to repent.
To make a way for God to come
he said that he was sent.
And he called men to the Jordan,
there to listen and to pray
as they confessed and asked the Lord
to wash their sins away.
'I am really not Messiah.
That’s what I have always said.
No, nor yet am I Elijah,
now arisen from the dead.
I am simply here to witness
to the light that is to come,
and to call men to repentance
that God’s holy will be done.'
As I think of the Baptizer
and his working in his time,
It occurs to me that one thing
makes his life seem so sublime.
And there’s one thing I have learned
from John in contemplating fame:
‘Twas his lack of seeking glory
that brought glory to his name.
and pursue it all their lives,
while another man seeks glory
and for it he always strives.
For John, Baptizer, neither one
was what in life he sought.
‘Twas shown by what he practiced
just as well as what he taught.
Out in the wilderness he called
the people to repent.
To make a way for God to come
he said that he was sent.
And he called men to the Jordan,
there to listen and to pray
as they confessed and asked the Lord
to wash their sins away.
'I am really not Messiah.
That’s what I have always said.
No, nor yet am I Elijah,
now arisen from the dead.
I am simply here to witness
to the light that is to come,
and to call men to repentance
that God’s holy will be done.'
As I think of the Baptizer
and his working in his time,
It occurs to me that one thing
makes his life seem so sublime.
And there’s one thing I have learned
from John in contemplating fame:
‘Twas his lack of seeking glory
that brought glory to his name.
