👋 Hello and Merry Christmas! We have a brief Renovaré Weekly for you this week with just two things: a word from Saint Augustine, and a podcast conversation between Nathan Foster and 95-year-old poet Luci Shaw. Let’s dive in…

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That day is called 
the birthday of the Lord 
on which the Wisdom of God 
manifested Himself 
as a speechless Child 
and the Word of God 
wordlessly uttered 
the sound of a human voice…

With yearly ceremony, therefore, 
we celebrate this day 
which saw the fulfillment 
of the prophecy: 

“Truth is sprung out of the earth: 
and justice hath looked down from heaven” (Ps. 85:11).

Truth, 
eternally existing in the bosom of the Father, 
has sprung from the earth 
so that He might exist 
also in the bosom of a mother. 

Truth, 
holding the world in place, 
has sprung from the earth 
so that He might be carried 
in the hands of a woman. 

Truth, 
incorruptibly nourishing the happiness of the angels, 
has sprung from the earth 
in order to be fed by human milk. 

Truth, 
whom the heavens cannot contain, 
has sprung from the earth 
so that He might be placed in a manger.

For whose benefit did such unparalleled greatness come in such lowliness? 

Certainly for no personal advantage, 
but definitely for our great good, 
if only we believe.

source

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Nathan Foster had the gift of visiting Luci Shaw in her home to record this special episode about her life as a poet and the potential she sees in words to call us into conversation with the art form itself and with God.

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That’s all for today.

From all of us at Renovaré,
May the peace of Christ permeate your heart this Christmas