The Holy Fire

The path unfolds

before me,
the journey lies ahead.

I cannot see the
turns and hills, but
I know the road
will not be easy.

This time,
this dark joy,
is the cassock
of my faith.

Look upon
the suffering we
imagine
and find within the
door onto paradise.

It is here,
on this lonely
road of Lent
we travel to the
inexpressible LIGHT.

We uncover the pieces
of our ash just as
the phoenix climbs
out renewed.

We step back for
a season -
to venture a gaze into
all that we feel is
human,

is heavy and
burdensome to carry,

namely our separation
and we rise up
triumphant

realizing that we
are not two

but one,

if only we would -

if we only would.

Heaven comes to earth,
earth is raised to heaven
and when they meet - then -
only then
can we see that they have
never been two.

Open our eyes to
see the marriage in
Your Kingdom;

open our hearts to
sense that
God is with us.

As we bow down
in humility and ash,

raise us up
to burn
with the HOLY FIRE -

aflame with love.