Poem for the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany

The Call of the Disciples

He calls us all to step aboard his ship,

Take the adventure on this morning’s wing,

Raise sail with him, launch out into the deep,

Whatever storms or floods are threatening.

If faith gives way to doubt, or love to fear,

Then, as on Galilee, we’ll rouse the Lord,

For he is always with us and will hear

And make our peace with his creative Word,

Who made us, loved us, formed us and has set

All his beloved lovers in an ark;

Borne upwards by his Spirit, we will float

Above the rising waves, the falling dark,

As fellow pilgrims, driven towards that haven,

Where all will be redeemed, fulfilled, forgiven.

Malcolm Guite (born  1957)

“Rising waves” and “falling dark”  speak of the times we are living in. It may well feel an anxious and stormy time to be launching out into the deep but there are also key images here for our salvation in the “ark” and the stilling of the storm.  So let’s pray to commit ourselves again to follow him whole heartedly and not miss out on the big adventure.

Tina Lamb