The Face of Grace
We are led to believe
that the holy one
walked heroically into the wilderness
bearing the strength of his father
the almighty
But I wonder
did this young messiah
extend his outstretched hand
to touch, tentative as a child
the cloak of an angel
Did, in fact
those feathered wings
enfold the body of the sun-burned son
hovering for the time it takes
to offer a blessing
Could it be
that we read this desert landscape
as proof of temptation conquered
when in truth it was the tender ally
who made all the difference.
By: S. Elizabeth Snyder
Holy Lament member
