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Anzac Day Sonnet

Anzac Day Sonnet for Sunday 25 April, Micah 4:1-4, John 15:9-17 To act in love entails some sacrifice when others’ needs outweigh our hopes for self. Then we may feel we’ve paid a heavy price, and seen what we could be put on a shelf. To act in nations’ conflict may require the risk ofContinue reading “Anzac Day Sonnet”

Jesus Appears to his Disciples

Jesus Appears to his Disciples Luke 36b-48, Easter 3 They felt a surge of joy to see him there,but they were disbelieving, wondering still.What contradictory creatures humans are!We dare not enter fully into joyfor fear of the relapse, the dismal clunkthat brings us back to earth and dust to dust.We’d rather shrink to temper joyContinue reading “Jesus Appears to his Disciples”

2 Sonnets for Easter 2

The Need for Personal Experience John 20:19-31, Easter 2 “I won’t believe unless I see and touch,” says Thomas and the sceptics of today. No insight counts as real, no vision stirs: without the proof of facts, they turn away. Like Thomas, are they blinded by despair, and choose to grieve apart while others meet?Continue reading “2 Sonnets for Easter 2”

Easter Morning

Easter Morning John 20:1-18 You know there are times that we drag our feet to a tomb of sorts. Our hopes have died, perhaps our love. We come to grieve, embalm the corpse, or touch the stone that seals in death and shuts us out. The tomb gapes wide and cracks our hearts. There’s noContinue reading “Easter Morning”

Voices from Good Friday

Lament of Judas Didn’t the others hear him say I was the one, do what I must. That was my signal to obey all I had dreamed of on the way. “He is our king,” the crowds had cried. He looked at me. He named the hour. He could have said the sovereign word callingContinue reading “Voices from Good Friday”

Lord of the Breaking Times

Prayer in a Dark Garden

Prayer in a Dark Garden – Mark 14:32-42, Holy Week There comes a desperate time for those of us who pray when, thrown upon the ground, we share his gut-wrenched cry: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible: remove this cup from me!” Perhaps it’s not our death or fear of coming pain (notContinue reading “Prayer in a Dark Garden”

The Woman Anointing Jesus’ Head

While I was studying toward ordination about 15 years ago, I wrote this poem, based on Mark 14:3-9. I was very moved by Mark’s account of the woman who anointed Jesus’ head, and Jesus’ support of her despite criticism. I came from an Anglican Diocese which still does not ordain women priests, so was seekingContinue reading “The Woman Anointing Jesus’ Head”

The Child’s gift to Jesus

The Child’s Gift to Jesus (Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-11) “Look at the man on the donkey, Mum! Why does he seem so sad? People are shouting and waving palms, trying to make him glad.” “Darkness looms over the way ahead though he’s the king foretold, humble upon a donkey’s back: crowds dream of power andContinue reading “The Child’s gift to Jesus”

Jesus Lifted Up Draws Us to Himself

Jesus Lifted Up Draws Us to Himself Lent 5, John 12:20-33 The crowd had thought his glory would be power. He chose to ride a donkey as foretold, but though they shouted: “Blessings on the King!” he knew their expectations soon would sour. But when some Greeks were drawn to seek him out, he sawContinue reading “Jesus Lifted Up Draws Us to Himself”