By Susie Wetherington
I was leaving the home of a dear friend after we were discussing the Easter Vigil. As I drove home, the refrain: “This is the face…” started playing in my head. From that meditation came the following poem. Created along the line of Psalm 136, the poem has repeating phrases. Don’t let the repetition become monotonous as you read. Take it slowly, one line at a time, and picture Jesus’ face with each line. Often, when I read the lines in Psalm 27, the face I seek is a clean, glorious face. But this time, I was led to picture the myriad faces of Jesus in his passion week. This is the face that suffered for me, this is the face I seek.
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Hide not your face from me. Psalm 27: 8-9a
This is the face of compassion,
This is the face of peace;
This is the face of my God,
This is the face I seek.
This is the face focused,
This is the face praised;
This is the face nard anointed,
This is the face giving grace.
This is the face loving traitors,
This is the face dripping sweat;
This is the face of surrender,
This is the face the kiss met.
This is the face being slapped,
This is the face wearing spit;
This is the face wreathed with thorns,
This is the face being hit.
This is the face plucked hairless,
This is the face oozing blood;
This is the face pain puckered,
This is the face of my God.
This is the face etched with torture,
This is the face lips cracking dry;
This is the face of compassion,
This is the face as he dies.
This is the face cloth covered,
This is the face behind stone;
This is the face buried,
This is the face all alone.
Selah
This is the face raised triumphant,
This is the face angels sing;
This is the face filled with glory,
This is the face of my King.
This is the face of my God,
This is the face of the meek;
This is the face I worship,
This is the face I seek.
Susie Wetherington is a member of Church of the Resurrection who is enjoying the opportunity to share poetry and art through RezArts. A ‘sometimes’ writer, reader, knitter and walker, Susie finds time to be on the Welcome Team, Eucharist Team, and Rez Kids. Her part-time day job is greeting kids at Greenhouse Christian Co-School.
