Engage in classic Catholic poetry with the warm voice of Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in “The Chosen” television series.
This week, Roumie reads “The Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’
I pleaded, outlaw-wise,
By many a hearted casement, curtained red,
Trellised with intertwining charities;
(For, though I knew His love Who followèd,
Yet was I sore adread
Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside).
But, if one little casement parted wide,
The gust of His approach would clash it to.
Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue.
Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars;
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o’ the moon.
I said to Dawn: Be sudden—to Eve: Be soon;
With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over
From this tremendous Lover—
Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see!
I tempted all His servitors, but to find
My own betrayal in their constancy,
In faith to Him their fickleness to me,
Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit.
To all swift things for swiftness did I sue;
Clung to the whistling mane of every wind.
But whether they swept, smoothly fleet,
The long savannahs of the blue;
Or whether, Thunder-driven,
They clanged his chariot ’thwart a heaven,
Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o’ their feet:—
Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue.
Still with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
Came on the following Feet,
And a Voice above their beat—
‘Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me.’
… To read the entire poem visit: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/hound-of-heaven-4117
SUBSCRIBE to the WOFI YouTube channel to watch every episode: https://wordonfire.institute/youtube
———WORD ON FIRE INSTITUTE———
Join Bishop Barron and over 20,000 evangelists inside the Word on Fire Institute at https://wordonfire.institute
———WATCH———
Subscribe to this Channel: https://wordonfire.institute/youtube
Bishop Barron’s Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/wordonfi…
Word on Fire en Español Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvq4…
———WORD ON FIRE———
Word on Fire: https://www.wordonfire.org/
FREE Daily Gospel Reflections (English or Español): https://dailycatholicgospel.com/
———SOCIAL MEDIA———
Bishop Barron Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Sn2XgD
Bishop Barron Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Sltef5
Bishop Barron Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Hkz6yQ
Word on Fire Instagram: https://bit.ly/39sGNyZ
Word on Fire Facebook: https://bit.ly/2HmpPpW
Word on Fire Twitter: https://bit.ly/2UKO49h
Word on Fire en Español Instagram: https://bit.ly/38mqofD
Word on Fire en Español Facebook: https://bit.ly/2SlthaL
Word on Fire en Español Twitter: https://bit.ly/38n3VPt
———SUPPORT WORD ON FIRE———
Donate: https://www.wordonfire.org/donate/
Word on Fire Store: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/
Pray: https://bit.ly/2vqU7Ft
source
AMEN. YES.
OUTSTANDING! Bravo, Jonathan! 👏👏👏 Brilliant reading! And amen that our amazing Lord never stops seeking us! Thank you WOF. So enjoy these!
I am doing homework for a class I have on Thursday mornings. It's an in depth look into the Book of Revelation. Homework is usually 2-4 hours a week. I really have to focus on what I'm reading! I took a short break and this came up on my phone! This poem, reminded me a little of The Book of Revelation. Oh what I would give to hear Jonathan read the Book of Revelation. It would make this class so much more enjoyable! Thank you, WOF, and JR!.This was beautiful! ❤️🙏
Beautifully done, Jonathan! Nothing can separate us from God's love. Like the lost sheep, we may go astray, but He will always pursue us. ❤️
Thank you Jonathan!
Bravo! ❤️🌹
Always seeking, forever faithful God♥️ Thank you for this heartfelt reading and your passion🙏
No words, Johnathan , for your reading of this beautiful poem. You encaptured His pursuit of us beautifully . Thank you !
The first poem I ever read by GMH. It has never been surpassed in my heart. You read it beautifully, Jonathon. Thank you.
Wow! JR, your reading would have Francis Thompson filled with all the love and passion he had when having written it! You did it justice! Good God stuff! ❣😃✌
This is the one I've been waiting for
This poem is difficult to understand for foreigners but I feel in my heart it is mystical. Thank you Mr Roumie 😊
Indeed, the hounding resonates! So grateful He loves us beyond my understanding. He never gives up on anyone! Your range of emotion is so perfectly fluid throughout the reading. Love your reading. ❤🌻
Absolutely breathtaking!!!! How I love these episodes… Thank you, Jonathan and WOFI. ♥️♥️♥️
Wow just wow beautiful words
Wonderfully read! Thank you!
In a world that is becoming more base everyday…quality beauty. Wow. This is where I want to live
Very well done "Jesus" of the Chosen. Until now I didn't even like poetry!
This is so beautiful ❤️
One of my favorite poems…I thank God for "hounding me" until I turned and ran into His Open Arms…I pray for my family members to turn around, with unscaled eyes, and see Him who is LOVE.