Oh! my son,
I see you
so ashamed,
woefully wounded.
I hear you
in such agony,
lamentably miserable.
I know you—
who you are.
I love you.
Little one,
take my hand.
Be not afraid.
I am not the crooked tyrant
who loaded you up
with burdens too heavy to carry.
Shame and fear,
his wretched henchmen,
buried you underground
where defiled, corrupted mire
has cloaked you in darkness,
preventing you from dawning
a garment of celestial light beams.
There, in depths of despair
lying in the mud and clay,
a horde of liars,
ravenous wolves,
set their teeth
to ensnare, condemn
shackle your poor heart,
and pin your wearied soul
to the rock of false beliefs:
“You are unlovable and undesirable”
Now, O son of mine,
take courage,
renounce the venomous lies,
and be of good cheer,
for the truth at once comes
to rescue the enslaved,
setting the captive free,
and to slay the wicked wolves,
condemning the father of lies.
I beckon you, dearly beloved,
“Come out of hiding”
Hear me,
who am your father,
See me,
who bore this cross
with you and for you.
As a good shepherd has compassion
for all his sheep,
so I have compassion
for all my beloved children—
those who have stayed near
and those who have strayed afar.
Let me love you.
Again I say,
let me love you.
Listen child,
to the voice of Love
calling you to become
all you were born to be—
a praise of your father’s glory.
I am with you.
Rest your head
on my chest,
Be comforted
with the peaceful sounds
of my heart’s life-giving beat.
Be sheltered
in my arms
under my winged refuge.
Let us rise from fear,
and together walk,
along a new path
of righteousness
to the beat of a hope-filled drum—
my heart’s unwearied love for you.
I will give you a new heart,
my own heart;
And a new spirit,
I will renew within you.
Come, follow me,
my son, my love,
dwell in the cleft
of my rock of truth,
your true home.
Sheath your sword,
put away all manner
of vice and bitterness;
take up your shovel,
run into my vineyard
bearing in your hands
the most sure virtues--
faith, hope and love.
Inhabit your wounds,
let not your past regrets
hold you captive any longer.
O you who are poor in spirit,
inherit the earth, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you by my hands.
For truly, truly
I say to you:
I am yours,
you are mine;
what is yours
is mine,
what is mine
is yours.
Enter into the abode
of my freedom,
wearing always that royal garment
of light and joy,
and let us feast
while ceaselessly singing
the victory hymn
with our blessed family,
now and unto all eternity.