EASTER 6

Revelation 21:10-22:5

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Come down, Holy City,

so we may walk in the light of your streets

Our cities are dark and foreboding

dangers lurk in the shadows

fear seeps from the sidewalks

We walk with heads down

eyes averted

frowns adorning our countenance

Come down, Holy City,

so we may walk in the light of your streets

Our cities are filled with hungers and scarcity

Lonely figures

huddling on doorsteps

sitting on the corners

crowding the panties and the shelters

hoping some crumbs might be thrown their way

Come down, Holy City,

so we may walk in the light of your streets

Our cities are cold and cheerless

love has been abandoned

being connected substitutes for communicating

We share nothing but a zip code

Strangers when we meet

retreating behind closed doors and shuttered hearts

Come down, Holy City,

so we may walk in the light of your streets

We hope for that light that will shine

upon our steps

We pray for the Spirit to fill us

with joy and peace

We long for the Shepherd

to protect us

We hope for the light that will shine

upon the poor and needy

We long for the day when the lame shall leap

the blind shall see

the dead shall be raised

and all will feast at the banquet of the Lamb

We hope for the light to shine

and bring us peace

We pray for the day when violence will end

when the guns will go silent

and all hatred shall cease

and the Shalom of The Lord

will reign forevermore

Come down, Holy City,

so we may walk in the light of your streets

Amen