Wood of the Cross

"It is not the finest wood that feeds the fire of Divine love, but the wood of the Cross." St. Ignatius of Loyola

The Hammer

A Babe was born one silent night
To bring to earth a shining light
O Wisdom! Truth! A young boy grew
To bring to all life anew

And yet throughout this Child's years
A hammer echoed in his ears

He cured the sick and healed the lame
Forgave our sins, took on our shame
Light pierced darkness, brave and true
Grace upon grace for me and for you

But still throughout our Savior's years
A hammer echoed in his ears

A judas kiss, a King betrayed
Upon the cross the Lamb was laid
The hammer fell again and again
For human hearts are full of sin

And a mother's eyes streamed with tears
As the hammer echoed in her ears

O Heart so sorrowful, I tell you true

...this hammer echoes in my ears too.

Forever

The Babe beheld his mother's eyes
As tenderly she soothed his cries
Filled with love and motherly joy
Mary caressed her baby boy

Throughout his life these eyes of grace
Followed Him from place to place
Until one day they mournfully
Followed Him to Calvary

Pierced by sorrow, stung by grief
She crawled beneath the witness tree
The Lord gazed down, beheld his mother
 As one last time they looked at each other

Her eyes spoke forever, a love so profound
They rained their sorrow upon the ground
And those beautiful eyes first seen at his birth
Were the last eyes He saw as He left the earth