The Prodigal DaughterLent 4; Luke 15:11-32A young woman went off to a faraway landat a risk-taking age, with the gifts she had claimed.There she more or less squandered the hopes she had dreamed,for a love that her church-going lessons had blamed.How she hungered, and lived for the scraps that he threw,with her singer’s throat blockedContinue reading “The Prodigal Daughter”
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Unless You Repent
Unless You RepentLent 3; Luke 13:1-9The victims of chance or a tyrant’s decreedid not die condemned for some personal sin,but Jesus spoke harshly to let people seesociety poised on the brink could fall in.The axe that is laid at the roots of our treeis nuclear war that no nation could win,abuse of Earth’s climate andContinue reading “Unless You Repent”
Lament for our Cities
Lament for Our CitiesLent 2; Luke 13; 31-35Weep for industrialized citieswhere the sky is dirtyand the earth cemented,where the waters are pollutedand the churches abandoned.How often has the Child of the Creatorsought to restore the Earth,and guide the people to healingin the clean flow of the Spirit,but we were not willing.Wail for commercialized cities,where theContinue reading “Lament for our Cities”
Temptations in the Wilderness
Temptations in the WildernessLent 1; Luke 4:1-15I have walked that wilderness,breathed its gritty, brazen air.Seems our culture lodges there!Voices work on our distress,tempting us to be secure –“Wealth can happiness ensure!”Spirit dreams evaporate!Bread is conjured out of stones,our reward as worker drones.“You can master petty fate!Power will help you keep your nerve!Just don’t question whoContinue reading “Temptations in the Wilderness”
The Churches of St. Moses, St. Elijah and St. Jesus on the Mountain
The Churches of St. Moses, St. Elijah and St. Jesus on the MountainLast Sunday after Epiphany – Transfiguration; Luke 9:28-36 It is upon the mountaintop that lighttransfigures features that we thought we knew,and we are dazzled seeing what’s beyondas past and future balance on that peak,and in that moment God and prophets speak.We vow thatContinue reading “The Churches of St. Moses, St. Elijah and St. Jesus on the Mountain”
Loving my Enemy
Loving my EnemyEpiphany 7; Luke 6:27-38To call that man my enemywould seem too strong a claim,yet still I feel unloving,remembering his name.A bully in the workplacethe three of us agreed.It’s many years behind me,and still I am not freed.One dived into a bottle,one left for pastures green.I plodded on, diminished,with wounds that felt unclean.I neverContinue reading “Loving my Enemy”
Blessings and Woes
Blessings and WoesEpiphany 6; Luke 6:17-26Confront us with the mysterythat blessing graces miserywhile fortune loads the dice for woe!Our poverty can strip awaythe gilded idols of our day,while wealth can stifle what might grow.Our hunger seeks out nourishmentand hungry souls will be contentwith nothing short of Spirit source,but bellies filled beyond excessfind illness shows themContinue reading “Blessings and Woes”
Responding to the Calling
Responding to the CallingEpiphany 5; Luke 5:1-11No, the miracles weren’t what convinced us:neither finding of fish we’d been missing,nor the healing of someone at Simon’s,neither stories of words from the heavens,nor a dove flitting down on his shoulder.Maybe these were for some confirmation,and for those left behind, compensation.As for us, we were hooked when weContinue reading “Responding to the Calling”
Reflections
ReflectionsEpiphany 4; 1 Corinthians 13;12,13If we look to see others in dusty mirrorswhere we are accustomed to find our face,they are distant reflections of shapes and shadowsthat cannot be us, in their separate space.Now if only we dare to release our image,and turn our regard to look face to face,then we both will be moreContinue reading “Reflections”
Good News to the Poor
Good News to the PoorEpiphany 3; Luke 4:14-21On January 26, 1788,an English fleet landedhere, and formally possessedwhat was not theirs to possess.They did not even acknowledgethat they had invadedthe lands of the Gadigal nation,one of many nationswho lived as custodiansof country for 60,000 years.Now let us respect Survival Day,and if we celebrate Australia Day,let usContinue reading “Good News to the Poor”
Barb, poet priest 