This day brings Hope beyond
Mere hope, joy beyond gladness,
But what if we have not ministered
To the sick and hungry, dispatched
The little ones with the lash rather
Than with love, sown our portion
Of the seed in the battlefield,
And watered the neighborhood
With the blood of bigotry, not
Loved our neighbor, not done
To others what we would
Have them do to us, and cut
Corners to lay our treasure here
Where the thieves of time and
Mortality steal the most
Securely laid greed—what if
We have professed faith but been
False in heart, will, O Christ,
Our contrition, however anguished,
Still merit the promise of
Your rising. Alas. We are too
Far gone in succumbing to
Glitter and gold to be redeemed
Without the miracle of
That ordained Second Coming.

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