Quote of the Day

The Empty Tomb

A Mohommedan once said to a missionary:

"We have our Prophet's tomb to show,

but you have nothing."

Earth's Meccas and the faiths of men

Hold but a corpse within a tomb;

Each weary pilgrim's journey ends

At some sad shrine of grief and gloom.

Earth's prophets rest, in silence wrapped,

Dust in the dust from whence they came;

By Death's chill wind their torches quenched,

No more to kindle into flame.

Earth's priests in solemn splendour sleep,

Ashes to ashes, robed and stoled;

Their chanted prayers forever hushed,

Their altar fires forever cold.

Earth's kings in state and glory lie,

In crypts of porphyry encased;

Their names and deeds, in marble carved,

Time's blurring touch has half erased.

No mausoleum built by man

Entombs our Prophet, Priest and King;

Our love no pilgrimage need make,

No fading votive garlands bring.

No death could kill, no gaurd could keep,

No seal could stay, no grave could hold

Immortal Life in mortal clay;

No darkness could the Light enfold.

Our Prophet's word shall come to pass,

Our Priest is interceding still;

Our King shall reign forevermore,

While heaven and earth shall do his will.

"No grave to show"? This is the stone

On which the temples of our faith

Rise higher than the mosques of Ind;

Our Living Lord has counquered Death!

 

Annie Johnson Flint