ASCENT

I

Homelessness: Adam's condition,

Ousted from Eden, He took part in

From His moment of birth. A beast has its earth;

A bird its nest; even the sun its tent;

He had nowhere to lay His head.

He must pass by foot the land's length,

Becoming wearied, requesting refreshment,

His feet roughed by shards of stone.

Though always purposefully advancing to that ultimate  

Homelessness; friendlessness  

That through anguish for men He should secure

Never to be lacked, God's concept of home.

II

Selflessness: always the sheep,

All wanderers and all in need,

Brambled, fallen, or sickening,

Occupied His days. Touching,

Searching and healing He cared for them;

Whatever the distance, the hour, the depths,

Like the urgent benighted fisher

He was on call and on duty. Tenderly

He bore the lambs; patiently

Led the sheep; constantly was door

To their fold: both in metaphor and fact

He laid down His life for the sheep.

III

Tirelessness   season after season:

Ploughing the clogging soil (smelling

Freshness of clods); sowing good seed

Broadcast, tending, daily

Enduring that day's work, sustained

By the joy lying before, the vision

Of gold grain rippling in the breeze,

Foresight of the glory of the harvest.

IV

Blamelessness   what these hands

(Blessing, healing, suffering) did,

What the pure heart felt, what

The descendent mind thought, perfected

For priesthood, ascent to the mount of God,

A stance in His holy place. Hands

Filled, consecrated, from God to men,

To God from men He served   to what

Extent? By the eternal Spirit He,

Spotless, offered Himself to God.

V

Fearlessness   our Hero went

The downward track, face set

Steadfastly; unencumbered by

A great man's armour He advanced

Against both death and its wielder

In the name of God whose ranks they defied:

By death death has been wrested

Into His victorious hand. Shielded

By the Conqueror's shield, defended

By His sword, victors by His victory

We cleave to our Deliverer.

VI

Peerlessness   whether the descent

To the lower parts of the earth, whether

Ascent above all heavens;

Or simply child, man, carpenter,

Preacher and sufferer, not one

Can compare: how rightly therefore,

His worth proved, He has the place

We could not give though knowing He

Deserves it   accommodated on the Father's

Throne, coronated in His affections:

And among His brethren, those equipped

To surround His glory, refracting

To the magnification of His splendour.

VII

Tearlessness   He will preside

Where not cheeks only but eyes

Will have received God's personal attention;

There, Minister of the Sanctuary, He,

Sweet Psalmist of Israel will orchestrate

Response. Under the King's direction

Instruments He has made will answer

To long years tautening and tuning,

To provide God what He first desired:

Amid the praises of His people - a home.