O Jesus, Splendour of the Father, see,
How 'neath the veil of Boyhood Thou wouldst be
The Enlightener of the learned - reverently
Discoursing as a Child, yet secretly
Informing docile souls that looked for Thee.
How God-like are Thine actions: verily,
Thou art the Word Himself. What comes from Thee
With Life and Light must ever pregnant be.
In all things, as is fittest, Thou wouldst be
Example, Teacher, Guide, unerringly.
The Way, the Truth, the Life, Thou needst must be:
They knew it not, those Doctors. Yet, through Thee
They felt the Life; and questioned wondringly
To hear Thine answers - thus the Truth they see;
Oh, will they find, perchance, the Way in Thee?
Thou, Nicodemus, later years, may be
Rememberedst that day; when, secretly,
Thou earnest to the Source of Verity;
Then burst on thee the Light of Charity,
And Truth and Life lit up the Way for thee.
This was Thy Father's Business, which would Thee,
O Tender Jesus, draw so brenningly:
Here are the souls which, from eternity,
As first-fruits of Thy Mission Thou didst see,
And yearned to lead with God-like cords to Thee.
Yea, this, O Lord, in every time shall be
The resolution of this Mystery.
Thy Manhood was not shrunk in Infancy;
And Adolescence dwarfed no power in Thee
By age to be developed. Thou couldst be
The Man Christ Jesus, veiled. So wouldst Thou be
As Babe, as Youth, as Adolescent, free;
And bounded only by the Charity
Which brought Thee from Thy Father's Side to be
In all things subject to Humanity.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote