Today’s author is Prince of Peace’s Intentional Interim, Pr. Steve Sylvester.

Last week’s Monday Devotional was a message from Bishop Curry of the ELCA.  I am happy you were given an opportunity to hear what he had to say.  I am also happy that Easter is a season, as it gives me an opportunity to place before you one of my favorite poems.  John Graber, a poet in the first congregation I served, in Pepin, Wisconsin, introduced me to Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Victorian poet who remained unpublished till 30 years after his death. I return to his poems often, and the poem below, “Easter,” is an every year read for me.

Break the box and shed the nard;
Stop not now to count the cost;
Hither bring pearl, opal, sard;
Reck not what the poor have lost;
Upon Christ throw all away:
Know ye, this is Easter Day.

Build His church and deck His shrine,
Empty though it be on earth;
Ye have kept your choicest wine—
Let it flow for heavenly mirth;
Pluck the harp and breathe the horn:
Know ye not ’tis Easter morn?

Gather gladness from the skies;
Take a lesson from the ground;
Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes
And a Spring-time joy have found;
Earth throws Winter’s robes away,
Decks herself for Easter Day.

Beauty now for ashes wear,
Perfumes for the garb of woe,
Chaplets for dishevelled hair,
Dances for sad footsteps slow;
Open wide your hearts that they
Let in joy this Easter Day.

Seek God’s house in happy throng;
Crowded let His table be;
Mingle praises, prayer, and song,
Singing to the Trinity.
Henceforth let your souls alway
Make each morn an Easter Day.