A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar

A pro­phet-woman broke a jar

By Love’s di­vine ap­point­ing

With rare per­fume she filled the room

Presiding and an­oint­ing.

A pro­phet-wo­man broke a jar

The sneers of scorn de­fy­ing

With rare per­fume she filled the room

Preparing Christ for dy­ing.

A faith­ful wo­man left a tomb

By Love’s di­vine com­mis­sion.

She saw; she heard; she preached the Word

Arising from sub­mis­sion.

A faith­ful woman left a tomb

With re­sur­rect­ion gos­pel.

She saw; she heard; she preached the Word

Apostle to apos­tles.

Though wo­man-wis­dom

wo­man-truth

For cen­tu­ries were hid­den

Unsung

un­writ­ten

and un­heard

Derided and for­bid­den

The Spir­it’s breath

the Spir­it’s fire

On free and slave des­cend­ing

Can tum­ble our di­vid­ing-walls

Our shame and sad­ness mend­ing.

The Spir­it knows; the Spir­it calls

By Love’s di­vine or­dain­ing

The friends we need

to serve and lead

Their pow­er and gifts un­chain­ing.

The Spir­it knows

the Spir­it calls

From wo­men

men

and child­ren

The friends we need

to serve and lead.

Rejoice

and make them wel­come!