Meditations on the Way: Poems of a Christian Journey

Index of Contents

Domestic Beatitudes

Oh, you may think you understand

All that love could be;

But you do not know what my love is

Until my house you see.

Until you ve washed the curtains,

Until you ve scrubbed the floor,

Put a light inside the window,

And a welcome at the door.

Until you ve set the table

With all your best array;

Until you ve cooked your finest meal

And given it away.

Till you have made a lovely place

And asked some guest to share-

A neighbour or a stranger,

To taste what you prepare.

Why is it that I work all day?

Why keep this house so clean?

I do it for the One I love

To serve as best I can.

It would be sweet to cook for Him,

And sweet to press His garments;

To clean the sandals for His Feet

And pour my fragrant ointments.

Though these things would be wonderful

The best of all I see-

To recognise in every man

That Face so dear to me.

Sr. Giles (C) 2006

Edited 05/12/2008

Br Andrew EFO