Today’s Lenten Meditation
A-Poem-a-Day
Until Resurrection Day
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| Image credit: deebrestin.com |
THE LAMB
O look upon the innocent
the unblemished lamb, slain at twilight
as God decreed through Moses
See its blood upon the doorposts, upon the lintel
The Israelites consume it along with bitter herbs
reminiscent of affliction
They eat hurriedly, prepared for departure
loins girded, sandals on their feet
staff in hand, the lamb within
Look upon the foreshadows
see their hazy shapes coming into focus—
It’s the Passover of the Lord
God struck His mighty hand against Egypt
and the firstborn of man and livestock were slain
As God looked upon the lamb’s blood
on the doorposts, on the lintels
He passed over the Israelite dwellings
and delivered His chosen, saved
by the blood of the Lamb
Look upon the foreshadows
see their hazy shapes coming into focus—
It’s the Passover, the Holy Passover of the Lord
O look upon the Innocent, the Unblemished One
the Lamb upon the Cross
slain in unison with other lambs at Passover
See the crimson Blood trickling down
the thorn-crowned Face
streaming from His hands and feet
See the iron spikes, the gaping stripes
the Suffering Servant
Oh! Look into the Eyes of the Lamb
the Atonement for all sin
It’s the Passion, the Holy Passion of the Lord
The Redemptive Lambs
meet in the foreshadows
Their shapes come into focus—
They are One
The Precious Blood
of the Lamb upon the Cross
redeems the world—
We are saved
by the Blood of the Lamb—
It is finished. Alleluia!
O look upon the glorious One
the Lamb standing as if slain
Hear the multitudes proclaim—
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!
...To Him who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb, be praise and honor
and glory and power for ever and ever![1]
Amen
Maude Carolan
orig 1991; rev 8 2/10/19
About this poem—
I began writing inspirational poetry, seriously, in the 1980s. I read, studied, and experimented with writing styles, trying to find my voice.
Shortly after marrying Leo Carolan, in 1991, I was sitting at my desk in work at Kearfott in Wayne, NJ, one Friday afternoon, when a vision of a Lamb upon a cross, momentarily flashed before my eyes. Strangely, it was a cocoa-colored lamb. Its sad dark eyes looked down and penetrated me. I knew at that moment I would write a poem about the Lamb upon a cross.
That evening, Leo and I went to the Shabbat service at Beth Israel Messianic Center, then in Garfield, NJ. I began talking with a woman I knew, named Elaine. I complimented her on a piece of unique jewelry she was wearing. It was a gold Star of David with a realistic platinum lamb affixed over it. She wore it on a chain around her neck. Elaine explained to me that she had the piece custom made. The Star had a wood-grain design, which represented the cross to her. There it was, for the second time that day, the Lamb upon a cross. I immediately knew the poem swirling in my mind would begin with the lambs in Exodus that were slain at Passover.
Writing the poem was particularly significant because I strongly felt God’s hand upon me as I wrote. When the draft was finished, I prepared to show it to Leo to get his opinion. Because this poem was deeply personal and important, I prayed first and asked God to give me the grace to accept any criticism he might offer without becoming sensitive or defensive. He asked me to read the poem to him. As I read aloud, there was one word I suddenly realized needed to be changed. I waited for Leo’s input. He said he liked it a lot, but there was just one word he recommended I change. Of course, it was the very same word. Praise the Lord for the amazing grace He gives. I consider this poem to be my miracle poem. It is titled, “The Lamb”.
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