Love God, Love NeighbourPentecost 24; Mark 12:28-34Do I love Godwith heart, soul, mind, strength?Whether I love with allof all of the aboveI have to doubt.Over the years my hearthas had its passionsand its breakages,built its walls,and found safe waysto value and appreciate,but how whole-heartedin God’s eyes?My soul, that intimate stranger,has no form or faceI canContinue reading “Love God, Love Neighbour”
Author Archives: barbmessneroutlookcom
Healing the Blind
Healing the Blind Mark 10:46-52Look round and in for signs of loss of sightunrecognized 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 minds are blank to climate change alarms,or to the newsContinue reading “Healing the Blind”
Word from a Whirlwind
Word from a WhirlwindGod’s Answer to Job Pentecost 22; Job 38:1-7Why ask why? My realm’s too wild and wide,this cosmos too diverse, immense and freeto bend its complex meaning to rewardor punish what a creature strives to be.Gird up your loins, you mortal! Answer me!How dare you with your God contend, and pleadyour innocence toContinue reading “Word from a Whirlwind”
Entering the Kingdom of God
Entering the Kingdom of GodPentecost 21; Mark 10:17-31Children, how hard it isto enter the kingdom of God,and yet how simple.Riches get in the waybecause getting and spendingobscures the simplicityof growing and makingand subtracts from moments of stilled awareness.Possessing robs giving of mutuality;where then is shared gratitudefor all that is given?Achieving gets in the waybecause itContinue reading “Entering the Kingdom of God”
Sonnet for St. Francis
Sonnet for St. FrancisThough 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 and even dared to claimthat sun and moonContinue reading “Sonnet for St. Francis”
Some Who Follow Christ
Some Who Follow ChristPentecost 19; Mark 9:38-50I think that some who follow Christseem more against than for.No doubt they think the same of me –both look for other’s flaw.They seem to claim that any textthey quote must count as law,while I maintain inclusive lovedefeats the points they score.It sometimes seems the God they findis oppositeContinue reading “Some Who Follow Christ”
Last of All and Servant of All
Last of All and Servant of AllPentecost 18, Mark 9:30-37He taught them that the Son of Manwould be betrayed by human hand.It seems he might have saved his breath:they could not bear his talk of death;they would not ask or understand.Instead they argued on the way,competing to be seen as great.They might have known thatContinue reading “Last of All and Servant of All”
Get Behind Me, Satan!
Get Behind Me SatanPentecost 17; Mark 8:27-38“Get behind me Satan!”he said to one he valuedas rock to build a church on:worth noting just how quicklykey insights get distortedby our survival instinctand lustful need for powerto do away with sufferingand concentrate on winning.“Oh! Get behind me Satan!”he said to something in him:a desperate human longingto sayContinue reading “Get Behind Me, Satan!”
Cast Out Demons of Dishonour
Cast Out Demons of DishonourPentecost 16; James 2:1-10, 14-17; Mark 7:24-37You shall love your neighbouras yourself,yet we project unrecognized shadowsonto others,or make distinctions that favour the rich,dishonour the poor.Historic grievances are ruins that dropharm like bombs.Demonizing difference spreads diseasethrough generations,absorbed like pollution from the environmentand now from social media.Even Jesus, vulnerable human, gone to TyretoContinue reading “Cast Out Demons of Dishonour”
My Song of Songs
My Song of SongsPentecost 15, Song of Songs 2:8-13What ifGod who loves is also loverand I and every living thingand even rocks and sunsare the Belovedand longing and belonging is our song.And what ifEros and “I AM” are oneand I-Thou runs deep in every atomand relationship is all there isand the sacred craving to comeContinue reading “My Song of Songs”
Barb, poet priest 