My Prayer-Poem for the 42nd Day of Lent, Tuesday in Holy Week, 30 March 2021

The Paradox
(This poem must be read with the accompanying painting “Christ of St John of the Cross” by Salvador Dali)


You’re suspended Lord;
suspended between earth and heaven,
a fitting posture for the Saviour of the world.
And light embraces you;
your dear body and the cross
which has become your throne.
We see no gentle face and you are silent now,
no blessing to pronounce or healing words.
The paradoxes you embody, now molten in holy love;


God-man
                                                      
                                                 dies and lives


through joyful suffering
                                                      
                                                 in the light of darkness                      


splicing heaven to earth           
                                                     
                                                 for time and eternity.


And so it seems,
your naked, broken body is your message now.

©️Mark Andrew Smith


​