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Season of Despair or Hope

Season of Despair or Hope Advent 1, Luke 21:25-38 Yes, now there’s distress among nations on earth, and signs in creation that few eyes dare see. There’s fear and foreboding, and pain before birth, but hidden growth waits in each season-bared tree. Apocalypse now or the kingdom come near? The promise of summer or portentContinue reading “Season of Despair or Hope”

Christ the King

Christ the King Christ the King, John 18: 33-37, Luke 23: 32-43 This Jesus is king like no other: he reigns without hoopla of power: no practised parading of armies, no throne room and no prison tower. It’s risky to vie for his favours: the cross is a hard way to rise, and thorns crownContinue reading “Christ the King”

Don’t Judge on Appearances

Don’t Judge on Appearances Pentecost 25, 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Mark 13:1-11 Though lofty in appearance, temples fall. Our preconceptions dazzle us or blind, and prejudice makes tyrants of us all when how we mock or prize distorts our mind. Poor barren Hannah mouthing silent prayer was judged as drunk when Eli misconstrued. She had toContinue reading “Don’t Judge on Appearances”

Beware!

Beware! Pentecost 24, Mark 12:38-44 He named it then, and he’d name it now! Though they crucify him, he would say, “Beware of those who show off in the marketplace, who expect respect and who claim they care, who display their wealth and yet grasp for more while the generous poor are left stripped andContinue reading “Beware!”

Song of Lazarus

The Song of Lazarus Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” John 11:35,36 He called. I returned. What else could I do? Though hard it was, and dark to take up flesh I’d left, I did not think to blame. He called. I came forth. What else could IContinue reading “Song of Lazarus”

Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept (Reflection on John 11:32-44, gospel for All Saints’ Day) See, Jesus wept. We know he shares our grief. Like Martha, Mary dared to speak her mind. “If you had been here” – anger finds relief, expressing thoughts so painful and unkind. “If you had been here, he would not have died.” Then JesusContinue reading “Jesus Wept”

Now the Son in a Splendour

Now the Son in a splendour (lyrics) (suggested for All Saints’ Day, John 11:32-44) Now the Son in a splendour of wholeness has shattered the smallness of our mundane lives. He discards all our bindings and coffins, and calls to our dead and our lost to emerge. So our butterfly souls are unfurling, and heartsContinue reading “Now the Son in a Splendour”

Healing the Blind

Healing the Blind Mark 10:46-52, Pentecost 22 Look round and in for signs of loss of sight unrecognized by those left in the dark, maybe because they think they’re always right. Their inner blindness leaves no outer mark. They cannot see how racial hatred harms, or what life might be like for refugees. Their mindsContinue reading “Healing the Blind”

Word from a Whirlwind

Word from a Whirlwind God’s Answer to Job (Job 38—41) Why ask why? My realm’s too wild and wide, this cosmos too diverse, immense and free to bend its complex meaning to reward or punish what a creature strives to be. Gird up your loins, you mortal! Answer me! How dare you with your GodContinue reading “Word from a Whirlwind”

Sonnet for St. Francis

Sonnet for St. Francis Though Francis bore the marks of Jesus’ pain, he walked the roads in simple joy and danced. He cast aside the robes of merchant gain, embracing poverty as life enhanced. A fearsome wolf at his request grew tame – for animal and town a happy end. He preached to birds andContinue reading “Sonnet for St. Francis”