The Lily Blooms Again

 

Inspired by the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

A few precious passages, familiar to believers

warmed, comforted and exhorted we who remain...

Psalm 103:13-18

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15 The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18 with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

Rev. 21:1-4

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] 

for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,

 and there was no longer any sea. 

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

 “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. 

They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. 

There will be no more death’[b] 

or mourning or crying or pain, 

for the old order of things has passed away.”

So many moving images...

The Lily’s bloom is shed

Her crown of glory spent

The scepter falls, as silver thread

Of mortal breath is rent

The Lily’s splendor lies

In funereal repose

Her final flight escapes the eyes

Fixed on life’s curtain-close

The Lily’s beauty bows

Beneath the Hand of He

Whose law is love, whose kingdom flows

Throughout eternity

The Lily’s stem is shorn

Though petals deck the sod

Her darling, deathless Bud is borne

Back to the arms of God

So, though we mourn the loss

Of touch, of sight and sound

The Lily sheds the albatross

Of glory, sorrow-crowned

Where tears will never fall

Where flowers never fade

No roses strewn in farewell’s thrall

As dust to dust is laid

The Lily is not dead

But fairer now than then

In the presence of God instead

The Lily blooms again

© Janet Martin

In memory of Queen Elizabeth II, with love