The Feast of Blessed Jonathan Myrick Daniels

The Feast of Blessed Jonathan Myrick Daniels

The mirror sees us

honestly.

It reflects our colors

and glorifies

our differences.

It blurs the imperfections

and accentuates

our fake smiles

We ask instead

for fire. A burning

from above. Burn

away

these cataracts of ignorance

and prejudice.

Turn to ashes

our adolescent minds

we delight in.

Consume our inbred instincts.

These human eyes, after all

will soon enough

go blind with death

and turn to ash.

But true vision—

true sight—

prophecy—

will survive us.

Calm the violence that grows within us

when we are frightened

and challenged. Instill

within us peacefulness

and a love

that helps us to embrace color—

to see, in our various tints,

the holiness of flesh.

Love us

in the colors of our skin—

in our reds,

in our blackness,

in our yellows

in our browns

and in our whiteness.

Love us for

the fire

that burns in us—

that inferno of

of compassion

and truth—

that flames

stronger than all flesh.

Love us for the life

within us—

for the frail breath

here, with us, in this moment

and gone,

in an instant later.

Love us for

the blood

in our veins—

the same blood

drained from your veins.

Make us, truly,

as you are

One.

Jonathan Myrick Daniels (1939-1965) was an Episcopal seminarian who was shot and killed in August 20, 1965 in Selma, Alabama while defending a young girl during the Civil Rights demonstrations in the city.  His feast in the Episcopal Church is celebrated on August 14. 

Originally published in the anthology, Race and Prayer: Collected Voices, Many Dreams, edited by Malcolm Boyd and Bishop Chester L. Talton. Published in 2003 by Morehouse Publishing.