An Encounter Along Emmaus Road

Photo credit: ids.org

THE EMMAUS TRIPTYCH

Luke 24:13-35

I. THE UNNAMED FRIEND

Cleopas and friend walked and talked

with lumbering gaits and downcast faces

shining hopes of sweet redemption

dashed and obliterated

They asked of each other the Why question

for if anyone had come to fill those old prophecies

surely it had seemed to be Him

that Jesus they'd come to know

through signs and wonders

that appeared to be miraculous

Their so-called Messiah had been crucified

was dead and gone. Yes, gone, gone, gone!

Even His cold dead body was missing

from the tomb that had been sealed—

He approached them

in the midst of their perplexity

on the road to Emmaus

He walked with them, talked with them

they even felt His fire

but didn't know who He was

and strange as that may seem

how often have I been

the unnamed friend of Cleopas?

I, too, profess to know Him, know Him well

yet fail to recognize Him along the road

II. THE STRANGER

Taking the barley loaf in his hands

the stranger lifted it

Baruch ata Adonai

Eloheynu Melech ha Olam

ha motzie lechem

min ha'aretz

He tore it, offered it, and just as it fell

into reaching grasps

their astonished eyes recognized Him

and in that instant

He utterly vanished from their sight!

Leaping from the table, Cleopas and his friend

stumbled over each other

looking under, over, around and around

knowing even as they did

it was True after all

As they looked at each other

their disbelief became relief

the sweet awakening of a deep Belief

for Truth visited them along the way

joined them at their table, broke their humble bread

They asked each other

Were not our hearts burning

as He talked with us on the road

and opened the Scriptures to us?

Now, blazing temples of Holy Fire

they suddenly knew their once shattered hearts

would never cool again

III. MY EMMAUS

When I first found You, or You found me

I thought I'd go from strength to strength

pinnacle to pinnacle, joy to joy

and so it was for a season

when love was new

then the whirlwind came

thrashing through my world

upending all my securities

leaving me stunned, broken, alone

certain I would die

so I waited for You to save me

waited for prayers pleaded at Your scarred feet

to avail their just reward

for I believed in You, trusted, hoped

Eyes veiled, I couldn't find You

failed to recognize You along the road

Had I believed in vain?

Then You began to speak

not audibly, but  whenever I opened Your Word

Radiance, Glory, Unfailing Love

sprang from the page and became manifest

My heart blazed! I began to shine!

Now, on the other side of sorrow

I dare not forget my burning heart,

Your Glorious Presence

so I abide, remembering

it is You, my Jesus

Who walks with me along the road

Maude Carolan

Bumper Stickers Matter...

The following poem tells a true story

from many years ago:

BUMPER STICKER

I’m heading home, the hour is late;

behind the wheel in a drowsy state.

Open the window; turn volume high;

nibble some chocolate…I’m soooo, soooo tired!

Slap at my cheeks to stay awake.

I mustn’t doze off, for Heaven’s sake!

Along with music, I sing and yawn…

eyelids are droopy; the road is long.

All efforts futile. My eyelids close.

My car veers leftward as I doze.

The swerve gives a jolt! My sedan snakes!

Nearly collide!!! Now I’m wide awake!

Continue with care. Lights flash, rear-view;

I pull right over…Only thing to do.

The officer carries a long flashlight;

shines it on my license plate, so bright!

It also shines, without a flicker…

on my Jesus is Wonderful! bumper sticker!

He didn’t sniff or ask if I’d had booze;

seemed to know this gal just took a snooze.

“You swerved back there,” the policeman said,

“You nearly hit me!” I gasped with dread!

Then, with a smile and tender tone

he asked me if I were headed home.

“Are you now alright to go your way?”

Whew! Jesus is Wonderful! saved the day!

Tip o’ hat. No ticket or breathalyzer…

Jesus, I promise, I’ll drive wiser.

Driving sleepy is foolish; I’m ashamed.

I deserved the ticket; deserve the blame.

People could’ve been killed at that swerve.

God’s grace is getting what we don’t deserve!

Maude Carolan Pych

Whew!!! Thank You, Jesus!

It's all about...the Lamb - Vol. 19 Issue 3

September 15, 2016
Vol. 19, Issue 3

It’s all about…the Lamb

Photo credit: flicker.com

Maude Carolan Pych/Quarterly Poetry Letter

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches

and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Rev 5:12 NASB

It’s all about…the Lamb is a quarterly publication for followers of Yeshua/Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God, and people who enjoy poetry. The purpose is to magnify our Lord and Savior and inspire an ever-deepening relationship with Him, the lover of our souls.

New Release

The Book of Mysteries

By Jonathan Cahn

For months, our congregation has been anticipating the release of our pastor/rabbi’s new book. The official book launch was Sunday at the Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel Worship Center, Wayne, NJ. I eagerly purchased my copy and immediately began reading and unlocking, one by one, the 365 mysteries of the ages from the treasure chest that Jonathan Cahn has opened for us.

On the back cover, it says, “The Book of Mysteries is also a daily devotional unlike any

other—with things never before revealed, the most important keys of spiritual truth, end-time revelation, and the secrets of overcoming…It can even change your life!”

Jonathan’s previous two books, The Harbinger and The Mystery of the Shemitah, each had long runs on the New York Times best sellers list, and I’m certain his newest book will follow in their footprints.

**Early Announcement**

Save the Date

3^rd Annual Music & Poetry Event

Christmas at the Ant

I’m so excited! Jim & Emily Gwyn have invited me back to read Christmas poetry at the Ant Bookstore, Saturday, December 17^th at 7 p.m., 345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, and this time Jim suggested I invite my poet/friends Pastor EJ Emerson and Sister Jane Abeln SMIC, to read with me. We’ll be joined, musically, by Victoria Warne, singer, songwriter and leader of the Victoria Warne Band. Music…Poetry…Refreshments! It’ll be a special and delightful evening in every way! Plan to join us.

Mark your calendar now so you don’t miss it.

**Featured Poem**

Several years ago, when my children were young, one Good Friday, we went as a family to visit the Holy Face Monastery in Clifton, NJ. One of the resident priests gave us a personal lecture on the Shroud of Turin. Using his pointer stick, he identified the wounds represented on the replica of the shroud, which many believe to be the actual shroud that covered the crucified body of Jesus in the tomb. Years later, I read a book by a French surgeon who studied the shroud and the wounds represented on it. The author was Pierre Barbet, the book, A Doctor at Calvary. At the conclusion of the book, Barbet wrote of the passion of Christ from the perspective of his findings. It was an unforgettable and moving account.

The poem that I have selected to share with you today was written many years back from memories of my visit to that monastery and some of what I remember from that amazing book.

+++The Poem Follows+++

Photo credit: geneticliteracyproject.org

HOLY FACE

When I look upon Your Visage

and pierced, bruised Body

imprinted upon the winding sheet,

and contemplate

wounds You bore for me,

it causes me to quiver

with reverence and awe.

After two millennia

I witness Your Passion

mapped out

on a white linen proof-sheet.

Controversy has abounded

about the authenticity

of this ancient Shroud of Turin;

I leave it to greater minds

than mine to ponder.

As for me,

in my spirit I know,

it is You, my Lord.

Amazing. I can look

upon the negative

that’s positive

and actually see Your Face,

Your beautiful Holy Face,

suspended from Its Divine Agony

and interlude with death

when Your Majestic Imprint

burst upon the burial cloth.

Death sprang to Life

in that timeless flash-moment

of Resurrection. Glorious!

Lord, I see Strength,

unimaginable Endurance,

but even more, Peace

and the Countenance

of Unsurpassed Love.

Others may debate carbon dating.

Let them scrutinize and snip,

analyze in test tubes,

on smeared slides under microscopes,

and beneath glaring, blaring lights

until Your Second Coming!

As for me,

when I gaze into the negative

that’s positive

burnished miraculously

into that Holy Shroud

at the Climax of all time,

I accept with simple faith,

it is You, my Lord.

Maude Carolan

Comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Look for the next edition of It’s all about…the Lamb, December 15, 2016.

A FEW CLOSING WORDS…

Dear Reader/Subscriber,

Here is a Scripture portion that beseeches the radiant Holy Face of God to shine upon His people. It’s the blessing that Aaron pronounced upon the sons of Israel:

“The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 NASB

Shalom,

Maude

After God’s Own Heart Publishing

P.O. Box 2211, Woodland Park, NJ 07424

thelamb777@optimum.net

http://maudespoems.com

It Happened 15 Years Ago

Photo credit: pinterest.com

NOW THAT A MONTH HAS PASSED

October 11, 2001

No one sees us weeping

No one sees us praying

No one sees us trying

to piece together pieces

in our private places, but

it’s flags we see


They color bustling boulevards

and line our sleepy side streets

Huge ones hang from poles

in front of municipal buildings

and are draped across storefronts

Star spangled banners wave briskly in the breeze

over our white-washed porches

We stick smaller ones in flower boxes

along with the chrysanthemums

Construction paper ensigns

are taped to every classroom window

Flags flutter from car antennae

and are glued to our bumpers

Ostentatious ones stream from rusty red pick-ups

and sleek eighteen-wheelers

Our colors are strung from bridges

and unfurled across overpasses

We even see them tied from tree to tree

Apollo Flag had customers lined up

outside and around the building for over a week

The front of an old clapboard house

on Webster Avenue is painted like Old Glory

and the cement retaining wall is studded with stars

The owner’s boss gave him the day off

to finish the job, and

The Philadelphia Inquirer

snapped it and printed it on Page 2

People drive by just to see it

A talented graphic artist painted

a weeping Lady Liberty

flanked by red, white and blue

on “The Wall” in Ringwood

as a poignant memorial to the missing

No one sees us weeping

No one sees us praying

No one sees us trying

to piece together pieces

in our private places, but

it’s flags we see

We see them on patriotic T-shirts

on rhinestone stars and stripes

and ribbons pinned to our lapels

We even place miniature banners

in miniature stands on shelves and desktops

and download tiny ones

to ever-wave in the lower right corner

of our computer screens

That magnificent banner

raised high above the wreckage and carnage

where until one month ago

the Twin Towers stood

is seared upon our memory banks

Suddenly, it’s not an occasional flag we see

not a rare salute

Suddenly, we’re singing “God Bless America”

and our national anthem, a little louder

a lot more earnestly

our hand placed firmly upon our heart

Suddenly, we’re more apt to shed

a “proud to be an American” tear

Suddenly, it’s not merely accustomed banners

flying from government buildings

and outside new car dealerships

Suddenly, the stars and stripes are not reserved

for Flag Day and the Fourth of July

Suddenly, we’re flying crisp new flags

of a crisp new patriotism

and frayed dingy flags

of a proud old patriotism, renewed

Tears may flow in secret

for the victims and ourselves

Heart-wrenched prayers may appear invisible

as they work in realms beyond what eyes can see

but in the light of day

and beneath porch lights at night

our true colors

our red, white and blue colors

fly boldly in terror’s twisted face

and it’s flags, flags, flags we see

Maude Carolan

"Sunflowers Along Emmaus Road"

Look at my sunflower! Isn't it gorgeous? It bloomed for me yesterday morning in my backyard here in New Jersey and reminded me of a field of sunflowers I saw blooming along the road to Emmaus during a Holy Land pilgrimage in 1986.

Photo by Maude

SUNFLOWERS ALONG EMMAUS ROAD

Israel Pilgrimage—1986

Big, bodacious sunflowers

live up to their name

sun-shining a million

dazzling petal spires at us

along Emmaus Road

It is fitting

because I am ablaze

with Jesus-joy

to be here

as I think about my newly

Resurrected Lord, vanishing

at the very breaking

of the bread

astonishing the disciples

who sat with Him

at table

Those utterly bewildered disciples

whose hearts thumped

and blazed

with glory fire

as He walked with them

as He explained to them

the Holy Scriptures

2000 years ago

somewhere

along this very road

Maude Carolan Pych