Before Jesus <br />was his mother. <br /> <br />Before supper <br />in the upper room, <br />breakfast in the barn. <br /> <br />Before the Passover Feast, <br />a feeding trough. <br />And here, the altar <br />of Earth, fair linens <br />of hay and seed. <br /> <br />Before his cry, <br />her cry. <br />Before his sweat <br />of blood, <br />her bleeding <br />and tears. <br />Before his offering, <br />hers. <br /> <br />Before the breaking <br />of bread and death, <br />the breaking of her <br />body in birth. <br /> <br />Before the offering <br />of the cup, <br />the offering of her <br />breast. <br />Before his blood, <br />her blood. <br /> <br />And by her body and blood <br />alone, his body and blood <br />and whole human being. <br /> <br />The wise ones knelt <br />to hear the woman’s word <br />in wonder. <br /> <br />Holding up her sacred child, <br />her spark of God in the form of a babe, <br />she said: <br /> <br />“Receive and let <br />your hearts be healed <br />and your lives be filled <br />with love, for <br />This is my body, <br />This is my blood.” <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />From Accidental Wisdom by Alla Renée Bozarth, iUniverse 2003 <br />and This is My Body~ Praying for Earth, Prayers from the Heart <br />by Alla Renée Bozarth, iUniverse 2004. All rights reserved.<br /><br />Alla Renee Bozarth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-jesus/
