Wednesday, June 2, 2004

One takes a risk when one invites the Lord

Whether to dine, or talk the afternoon

Away, for always the unexpected soon

Turns up: a woman breaks her precious nard,

A sinner does the task you should assume,

A leper who is cleansed must show his proof:

Suddenly you see your very roof removed

And a cripple clutters up your living-room.

 

There’s no telling what to expect when Christ

Walks in the door. The table set for four

Must often be enlarged, and decorum

Thrown to the winds. It’s His voice that calls them,

And it’s no use to bolt and bar the door:

His kingdom knows no bounds of roof, of wall or floor.

... Marcella M. Holloway (1913-2003), included in Divine Inspiration: the life of Jesus in world poetry, Robert Atwan, George Dardess, Peggy Rosenthal, eds., Oxford University Press US, 1998, p. 118 (see the book; see also Luke 5:18-19; Matt. 9:10-13; Mark 2:3-4,15-17; 14:3; Luke 7:36-38; 17:12-16; John 12:2-3; 13:4-5; 14:23; Rev. 3:20; more at Christ, Cleanse, Door, Jesus, Kingdom, Miracle, Sinner, Woman)

 
Compilation Copyright, 1996-2024, by Robert McAnally Adams,
        Curator, Christian Quotation of the Day,
        with Robert Douglas, principal contributor
Logo image Copyright 1996 by Shay Barsabe, of “Simple GIFs”, by kind permission.
Send comments to curator@cqod.com.

Last updated: 04/14/16

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