© 2007-2009 John Thornburg
Christmas 2008
We want the rules to bend our way;
to fight a war but hear no cry,
to overeat and never die,
to burn the fuel but clean the sky.
Dominion is our favorite sport;
to claim whatever we can see,
to dictate our idea of ‘free’,
to do our business by decree.
We share this attitude with Rome,
with Herod, so enmeshed in lies
he could not fashion how the skies
were filled with wonder and surprise.
The time is ripe to claim the news;
that all is level in God’s sight,
that greed is wrong and love is right,
that Christ can put all fear to flight.
Be instant, O Eternal God,
to turn our minds from selfish gain,
to still our hands from causing pain,
to set our minds upon your reign.