I really like this poem written in the spirit of Advent by author Madeleine L’Engle. She passed away in 2007. She is most well-known for her novel written for children and youth entitled A Wrinkle in Time. The message of this poem is good for us to hear during the Advent season, of how Jesus came not into a perfect world, but into a world that was broken and messy. Our world today, just like the world of Ancient Israel, is in desperate need of redemption, transformation, and salvation. Jesus came incarnate into our world in the humble stable in Bethlehem for these very reasons. That is also why Jesus comes into our world today.
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine.
He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
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