First Coming - Madeleine L’Engle

Often in Advent we talk of preparations…of being ready for the coming of Christ to Earth again. In this piece by Madeleine L’Engle, we are reminded that God did not wait for a perfect time to come, but came when the need was the greatest.

God does not wait for us; we wait for God.

 

First Coming

God did not wait till the world was ready,

till...nations were at peace.

God came when the heavens were unsteady

and prisoners cried out for release.

 

God did not wait for the perfect time.

God came when the need was deep and great.

God dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine.

 

God did not wait till hearts were pure.

In joy God came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame, God came,

And God’s light would not go out.

God came to a world that did not mesh

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.

 

We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

For to share our grief, touch our pain,

God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice