Hide me, hold me, help me,
Living rock of my being.
You, Truest Truth,
No mere symbol,
But Holy Being,
Are Ground of my being.
Creating with a Word, the World,
You speak my name,
And, moment by moment,
Sustain my being.
Christ, my Rock,
May I forever be in Thee.
© 2015 Joann Nelander
O Holy Father,
On my death,
And the occasion of my judgment,
I offer You Jesus’ Love for me.
See how He wants me eternally.
Dying to hold me,
His Blood claims me as His own.
He created me with such care,
As I took form in my mother’s womb.
He lavished attentions on me
As living flesh, imbued with eternal soul,
Flourished in the abundant waters of Life.
Unique among His creations,
He smiled upon me, seeing my beauty,
And my need.
See how He sought me,
Playfully with joys,
And in sorrow as I hid myself.
See the iron of His intention,
Bent on me.
See His fury at the Foe,
Who pursued me,
Seeing His Grace reclaiming me.
My Father, minister to Your daughter,
That leaving behind my earthly life,
Heavenly couriers might present me
Before the One,
Whose Spirit lives in me.
See His pieced Side,
Opened wide inviting me,
All the more, longing,
He for me,
And me for Thee in Three,
As leaving the mortal for the immortal,
I seek sanctuary.
You are everywhere in Being,
And in me.
I wrap my heart around Your Godhead,
Your Jesus.
He embraces me with Spirit,
Even in judgment,,
I am chosen for the Son.
Copyright 2015 Joann Nelander
UNITY BY GOD ALONE
From an Easter letter by Saint Athanasius, bishop
The paschal sacrament brings together in unity of faith those physically separated from each other
Brethren, how fine a thing it is to move from festival to festival, from prayer to prayer, from holy day to holy day. The time is now at hand when we enter on a new beginning: the proclamation of the blessed Passover, in which the Lord was sacrificed. We feed as on the food of life, we constantly refresh our souls with his precious blood, as from a fountain. Yet we are always thirsting, burning to be satisfied. But he himself is present for those who thirst and in his goodness invites them to the feast day. Our Savior repeats his words: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
He quenched the thirst not only of those who came to him then. Whenever anyone seeks him he is freely admitted to the presence of the Savior. The grace of the feast is not restricted to one occasion. Its rays of glory never set. It is always at hand to enlighten the mind of those who desire it. Its power is always there for those whose minds have been enlightened and who meditate day and night on the holy Scriptures, like the one who is called blessed in the holy psalm: Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or stood where sinners stand, or sat in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Moreover, my friends, the God who first established this feast for us allows us to celebrate it each year. He who gave up his Son to death for our salvation, from the same motive gives us this feast, which is commemorated every year. This feast guides us through the trials that meet us in this world. God now gives us the joy of salvation that shines out from this feast, as he brings us together to form one assembly, uniting us all in spirit in every place, allowing us to pray together and to offer common thanksgiving, as is our duty on the feast. Such is the wonder of his love: he gathers to this feast those who are far apart, and brings together in unity of faith those who may be physically separated from each other.
Here I am,
Asleep in Your arms.
I forgot to be afraid.
© 2017 Joann Nelander
Who Notices?
How many moments in the day
Pass into a supposed oblivion?
“Just another day,” they say.
Another runny nose,
Another cranky cry,
Another, and another, and another.
Cloudy horizons,
Dreams caught off guard
By the mundane of reality,
Where is the “anything”,
They said I could be?
No time in the day just for me.
How many selfless moments,
Written in timeless sands,
Seemingly, lost with yesterday?
Hidden moments,
Stripped of vain glory.
Only God notices.
© 2017 Joann Nelander
Who Notices?
How many moments in the day
Pass into a supposed oblivion?
“Just another day,” they say.
Another runny nose,
Another cranky cry,
Another, and another, and another.
Cloudy horizons,
Dreams caught off guard
By the mundane of reality,
Where is the “anything”,
They said I could be?
No time in the day just for me.
How many selfless moments,
Written in timeless sands,
Seemingly, lost with yesterday?
Hidden moments,
Stripped of vain glory.
Only God notices.
© 2017 Joann Nelander
God Notices
How many moments in the day
Pass into a supposed oblivion?
“Just another day,” they say.
Another runny nose,
Another cranky cry,
Another, and another, and another.
Cloudy horizons,
Dreams caught off guard
By the mundane of reality,
Where is the “anything”,
They said I could be?
No time in the day just for me.
How many selfless moments,
Written in timeless sands,
Seemingly, lost with yesterday?
Hidden moments,
Stripped of vain glory.
Only God notices.
© 2017 Joann Nelander
One Holy Night
Holy Infant of the stable
You shattered my darkness
In one Holy Night.
Though, tyrants and terrors
Threaten and pursue
Peace shines forth in Your angelic Light.
I, too, shiver in the cold,
As enemies draw near,
Simply trusting, in my plight.
Taking heart that angels ring me ’round.
Trusting that You will be ever near,
Hallowed, Holy, God of Might.
© 2017 Joann Nelander
Two Images, One Lamb
Agnus Dei,
Lamb of God,
Meek, perfect, humble,
Oblation, acceptable and sacrificial.
Arnion,
The Lamb, standing, as if slain,
Conquering , and at Sabbath Rest,
Resurrected!
© 2017 Joann Nelander
Seeming
Lord, you pass by.
A sea of hands reach for You.
Straining to its end,
Determined, one hand, truly, seems all Heart.
You pass, seeming out of reach.
From Heaven the Father sees,
And satisfies the soul’s desire.
“Who touched me?”, says the Son.
© 2017 Joann Nelander
Immaculata-Patroness
Joann Nelander Studio 