Monday, September 19, 2022

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














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