Angels at the tomb, saying, "He is risen,"
Bade us come to meet him here in Galilee.
There by Calvary we had fled for fear of hate,
Fled from love. He, forgiving, comes again
In Galilee—where he'd told us of the kingdom,
Told us we must leave ourself, our earthly loves, our all,
If we would follow him. He spoke of lilies
Clothed in beauty, spoke of sparrows that fall
Not without the Father's care. And children,
Unafraid, looked up into his gentle eyes.
Within our hearts we thought that we could keep
These lovely things, for their sweet pleasure, yet
Not leaving all.
Our pleasant faith, it failed us
In those darkened days. We had not drunk the cup
Of sacrifice; we could not quench desire,
Face hate with love—and light was lost in gloom.
Our chastened hearts, still grieving, burned within us
When we heard his words upon the Emmaus road;
Our dullard eyes were opened as he broke
The bread before us; and our heavy doubts
Were riven when we saw his wounded palms.
Angels bade us meet him here again in Galilee—
Yet we went a-fishing, staying yet the rising
Of the light within us. Then he called us
From our failure, "Come and dine''—our risen Lord!
Ever loving, ever calling, "Feed my sheep,"
He said, "my little lambs." Other things he did,
Patient with our slowness, which the world cannot
Contain or know.
