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Paradox

Paradox Easter 5; John 13:31-35 When Judas left and walked into the night, and Jesus knew that he would be denied, betrayed, abandoned to his plight, he said that he and God were glorified. It seems a paradox to human eyes that glory is revealed in pain and death, but this is the transformative surpriseContinue reading “Paradox”

Season Break

Season Break One day, windy in mid-autumn, the bush was wild in flail of fall. Dead leaves sacrificed to drought skittered and whirled across the road, and hills were blurred with dust and smoke. I felt the threat and promise of change in ragged clouds and restless wind. Old farmers here say season break comesContinue reading “Season Break”

Tell Us Plainly

Tell us Plainly Easter 4; John 10:22-30 There’s some who want a label, clearly stated, so they can judge and file this case away. The evidence of deeds is under rated, and mystery ignored on every day. If Jesus said, “For sure, I’m God’s Messiah!” they’d call it blasphemy and want him dead, dismiss himContinue reading “Tell Us Plainly”

Breakfast on Shifting Sand

Today my long service leave ended and I am officially retired. I have been feeling rather raw all week, wanting to pull the blankets over my head, or some such equivalent of going fishing! As I woke up today this poem started to come to me. Breakfast on Shifting Sand Easter 3: John 21:1-19 LikeContinue reading “Breakfast on Shifting Sand”

Saul on the Road to Damascus

Saul on the Road to Damascus Easter 3; Acts 9:1-20 There vision failed him and his old self died. “Why do you persecute me, Saul?” Christ said. His zeal, thrown in the dust, will rise again, devoted to the work of Christ instead. Simply awesome, isn’t it: when one so sure of being right seesContinue reading “Saul on the Road to Damascus”

Encountering the Risen Christ

Encountering the Risen Christ Easter 2; John 20:11-31 Mary’s tears fell in the garden. Someone said, “Whom are you seeking?” Mary thought he was the gardener: deeper truth in that was speaking. When he called her name, she knew him, rose, commissioned at his bidding as apostle to apostles, though her culture was forbidding. JesusContinue reading “Encountering the Risen Christ”

Holy Week on Holiday

Holy Week on Holiday Here in this quiet space, the sea sounds ease: its restless growl now soothes like curled cat’s purr. The surges striking rocks here calm and please with soft repeated strokes like smoothing fur; yet walking on the shore in wind like knives I felt the power in every foaming curl. SprayContinue reading “Holy Week on Holiday”

Good Friday Sonnet

Good Friday Sonnet Suspended on the cross, he lived the death that looms before us all upon a hill. We all must face the halting of our breath, the mortal muscles of our heart will still. Is this the prospect cringing in our breast that makes us all complicit in the kill, resenting limits keepingContinue reading “Good Friday Sonnet”

Palm Sunday 2022

Palm Sunday 2022 Luke 19:28-44 Fickle as then this lusting crowd, equally hot for crown or cross, keen to humiliate the proud, or idolize the gilded dross. Silent you ride as shouts grow loud, chanting acclaim while you face loss. Yet without words the stones cry out, and without hands the branches wave. Deaf toContinue reading “Palm Sunday 2022”

The Sacrament of Anointing Jesus

The Sacrament of Anointing Jesus Lent 5; John 12: 1-8 In every gospel such a one appears: a woman who anoints his feet or head, prophetic, or contrite with heartfelt tears, or grateful for one risen from the dead. So intimate, extravagant and brave, expressing love in that embodied way: compassion that prepared him forContinue reading “The Sacrament of Anointing Jesus”