Saturday, July 28, 2007

A Poetic Interpretation of the Jesus Prayer

In crafting the liturgy for Sunday, I have come across a wide variety of versions of the Jesus prayer.

Below is a poetic rendition based on a translation of the Aramaic. Enjoy!

A Poetic Rendition of the Jesus Prayer

(Prayers of the Cosmos, Harper & Row, 1990)

O Divine Womb, birthing forth the river of blessing which runs through all,

Soften the ground of our being, and hallow in us a space for the planting of thy presence.

In our depths, sow thy seed with its greening-power that we might be midwives to thy Reign.

Then, let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with thy desire.

Impart to us the wisdom to bring forth the gifts of the earth and share them daily according to the needs of each being,

And restore that which has been usurped by injustice to its rightful owners, as we restore to others that which is not our own.

Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our purpose, but make us sensitive to the moment at hand.

For from thy fertile soil is born the creativity, the life-energy, and the dance, from birthing to birthing. Ameyn.

1 comment:

Jules/JAA said...

What excellent phrasing!
"Soften the ground of our being, and hallow in us a space for the planting of thy presence."

"And restore that which has been usurped by injustice to its rightful owners, as we restore to others that which is not our own."

I'm glad you posted that version.