Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ST. LUKE XXIV, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ST. LUKE XXIV, by                    
First Line: And now upon the first morn of the week
Last Line: Amen.
Subject(s): Crucifixion; Easter; Holidays; Jesus Christ; Saints; Jesus Christ - Crucifixion; The Resurrection


And now upon the first morn of the week
As the faint blush of dawn bespake the day,
They came in silence to the tomb to seek
The body of the Christ which hidden lay.
They bore within their palms rich oil and spice,
A final tribute to their Lord who died,
'Twas all that they could do, and must suffice
To prove their love for Him, the crucified.

The stone which sealed the sepulchre so tight
Against all friends or foes was rolled away,
And by that yawning tomb's uncertain light
They entered in and found not mortal clay.
And they were much perplexed and cried aloud,
When lo! behold! appeared unto them there
Two men with garments shining like a cloud
When brilliant with the sunset's colors rare.

And out of fear they bowed down to the earth.
Mortality is ill-prepared to look
Upon the grandeur of Celestial birth,
The finite ne'er the Infinite can brook.
And in their fear they listed to a voice
Which said, "Why seek ye living 'mongst the dead?
He is not here, oh, troubled hearts, rejoice,
But risen is and from earth's bounds is fled.

For know you not the words He spoke to you
When preaching by the Galileean Lake,
The Son of Man must die and life renew
Again, to prove God's love for mankind's sake."
And when they heard these words they called to mind
The things which Christ Himself had oft foretold,
Though none His meaning e'er before opined,
They knew the truth and, knowing it, grew bold.

And then again with new light in their eyes
They journeyed to the place from whence they came,
And told the rest of them which did comprise
The chosen lot to teach the Master's Name.
And it was Mary Magdalene who spake
And said, "Come, see," for some believed her not,
And questioned how the dead interred could wake
Or rise to glory from that guarded spot.

Then Peter rose and ran with all his might
Unto the sepulchre where Christ had lain,
And stooping down beheld the linen white
Laid by itself and naught did it contain.
And wondering within his soul he passed
From out the tomb into the light of day,
Nor doubted more that what his Lord forecast
Had been fulfilled in God's own holy way.

Now two of them that way went to the town
Which was Emmaus called, and lay about
Full threescore furlongs from the hills that crown
Jerusalem, the pride of Jews devout.
And as they spake together on the road,
Behold the Christ Himself drew near and walked
Beside them to the place of their abode,
And listed to the things of which they talked.

But neither knew Him, for their eyes were blind
To aught but doubts within each troubled heart,
And Jesus said, "What be the things ye find
To talk about, and whence those tears which start
From out thine eyes?" And one of them whose name
Was known as Cleopas replied and said,
"Art thou a stranger and know not the fame
Of things which o'er Jerusalem hath spread?"

And He said unto them, "What things be these?"
And answering again they said to Him,
"Of Jesus Whom the Scribes and Pharisees
Condemned to death upon the Cross so grim,
Who was a mighty prophet in both deed
And word before our God and fellow-men,
And how we trusted that Himself would lead
The tribes of Israel for us again.

And it has been three days since this befell,
Since He was laid beneath the ponderous stone,
And lo, what happened but to-day we tell
As it to us by some hath been made known.
Yea, certain women of our company
Who journeyed early to the sepulchre
And found His body not, but yet did see
Two angels there with whom they did confer.

And of a truth the angels said that He
Was now alive and risen from the grave,
And that these things were all ordained to be
By God Himself, Who sent His Son to save,
And certain men who were with us to-day
Went to the sepulchre and found it so,
Just as we all had heard the women say,
Nor did they see the Master there below."

Then said He unto them, "O slow of heart
And fools, to read the prophets and believe
Yet cannot see that Christ must do His part
And suffer much, His glory to achieve."
And then He read to them the scriptural law
From Moses and the other prophets, too,
Concerning things of which they'd heard and saw
About Himself and proved the prophets true.

And as they drew nigh to the little town,
He made as though He would have gone away,
But they constrained Him, saying, "Night comes down,
Abide with us, for far is spent the day."
And as He sat at meat with them He took
A loaf of bread and blessed it, brake and gave
To each of them, and blindness them forsook.
They knew Him, risen from the lonely grave.

And lo, behold! as they both looked again
He left them there and vanished from their sight,
And they amazed said to each other then,
"Did not our hearts within us burn with light
While He re-oped the scriptures on our way
And talked with us, while we knew not His Name?
Then rising up in the same hour they
In haste retraced their steps from whence they came.

And there they saw disciples gathered round
And said to them, "The Lord has risen indeed,
For even now He hath appeared unbound
And shown Himself to Simon loose and freed."
In haste they told the rest how Christ made known
Himself when at the table breaking bread,
And how He left them standing there alone
In doubt and fear, not knowing where He sped.

And as they spoke, behold! with them there stood
Within their midst the Lord Himself, Who said,
"Peace be to you," but they in troubled mood
Affrighted were, and would in fear have fled,
But He said unto them, "Oh, why are ye
So troubled in your hearts? Behold my hands
And see My feet, and know that what I be
Is flesh and bones which here before you stands."'

And then He showed them both His hands and feet,
And they believed in joy, yet wondered much,
When lo, He said, "Have ye withal to eat,
For flesh and bone doth oft require such?"
They handed Him a piece of broiled fish
And honeycomb wherewith to stay His fast,
And He did eat before them of each dish,
And spake these words to them upon the past:

"While I was yet with you these things must be
Which written were by prophets in the law
From Moses down, and all concerned Me
The things of which you've listed to and saw."
Then opened He their understanding so
They might the scripture comprehend indeed,
And said to them, "It written is, you know,
That Christ should die and from the grave be freed.

And that He should ascend unto His heavenly throne
On the third day from that on which He died,"
And rising thus, by this same act atone
For mankind's sins, and peace with God provide,
And that remission of all sins be told
Unto the multitude if it repent,
And to all nations they should then unfold
The truths of which each was recipient.

And they should start from out Jerusalem
And preach His Name and things they witnessed there,
Nor ever cease." And then He said to them,
"Behold I send and herewith now declare
The promise of My Father upon you,
And bid ye tarry in the city till
The power from high shall all your hearts imbue,
And God's pure love shall your whole being fill."

And then He led them out to Bethany,
And lifted up His hands and blessed them all,
And while He blessed them, ere a one could see,
He left them there, and answered Heaven's call.
And they returned and worshipped in great joy,
And daily in the temple raised their voice,
In love and praise their song they did employ,
With grateful hearts they prayed and did rejoice.
AMEN.





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