Mass Poem by Steven Federle

f I trust You, everything else will become, for me, strength, health, and support. Everything will bring me to heaven. If I do not trust You, everything will be my destruction.
Thomas Merton Thoughts in Solitude

When it begins
music plays and we sing
songs of gathering, greeting.

This, then, is the family complete,
assembled around the table
ready for the thanksgiving feast.

Why can't we just remain
innocent,
present?

We tell the stories of our youth,
laugh at self-folly, glad
to tell the truth,

but soon we feel the pain
of separation, of nails
driven deep
beneath our tender skin:

his heart breaks; her beloved body
cancer invades until we can only stare
at vacant crossings,
bereft,
alone,

when you speak
and, believing beyond reason,
we feel you, deep down,
feel the bread subsumed
in our very guts, spread
unreasonable warmth
and comfort
and joy!

We cannot understand such power
but without it
our lives
would cease.