Thomas and Us
Easter 2; John 20:19-31
The label “doubting” dogged him down the years –
it’s more than any saint should have to bear.
Did “doubting” Thomas add that shame to tears,
so grief and anger barred his need to share?
The risen Christ has no respect for locks,
nor will defensive doubt turn him away.
He lets his wounds be seen,to shift what blocks
our eyes from recognizing his new day.
Like Thomas, we find grace; and so we kneel,
and cry “My Lord and God!”; and breathe in peace.
Then his embrace will heal the pain we feel;
we breathe his Spirit, let our doubts release.
His wounds have touched our own and set us free;
we know new life, become what we can be.
Barbara Messner 3/04/2024
Palm Sunday Paradox
Palm Sunday Paradox
Palm Sunday; Mark 11:1-11
They wanted a victor to take power and reign –
his crown would be thorns on a victim in pain.
The man on a donkey, foretold as a king,
rode humbly despite the hosannas they sing.
They’d gathered some converts to bolster their cause;
his teaching forgotten in shouts and applause.
Yet how many times had he said, “First is last;
my kingship is service, not power of the past.”
Their shouts turned to anger: “He thinks he’s God’s fool!
He overturns tables and not Roman rule!
He gathers no army of angels to fight!
What use is he dying in such desperate plight?”
So how do we claim him, as fool or as king?
Does he choose a donkey while we praise and sing?
As we seek more converts to prop up our dreams,
he bleeds on our carpet and upturns our schemes.
Not many accept that God’s vulnerable here:
when power is surrendered, the kingdom draws near,
and those who have had to let go see the king.
Their silence and wonder transform what they sing.
Barbara Messner March 2018
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 saw it as a sign his hour had come,
and though he spoke of glory, he described
how buried seed would have to die to sprout.
Through Spirit-led disciples, word would flow
beyond the bounds of culture and of race,
but still his soul was troubled. Could he pray
to God to save him? He decided: "No!"
He must be lifted up so we are drawn
through death to life and new creation's dawn.
So as we face this Easter, do we fear
the many threats of death that plague our world,
while expectations of the ones who lead
are dashed, and tawdry glories disappear?
Where all are subject to pandemic's blight,
and all must own the threat of climate change,
we might regard all living things as kin,
and so lift up fresh wisdom into sight.
Believing that through death new life can rise,
we might accept the troubling of our souls
and face the harsh necessities of loss,
encouraged by the hope of some surprise
that bursts beyond the bounds of what we know,
as seeds long lost in dust with floods can grow.
Barbara Messner 2021 (no new poem due to covid)
God So Loves the World
God So Loves the World
Lent 4; John 3:14-21; Numbers 21:4-9
Though God so loves the world
the worldly make self god.
They do not prize the gift
the Son is meant to be.
What serves their purposes
is all that they can see.
What value put on love
that's offered to all free?
Though God so loves the world
the greedy make wealth god.
Where's profit in the gift
of one who comes to serve?
Their riches are not shared;
they keep them in reserve.
Accumulating more -
is that what they deserve?
Though God so loves the world
the leaders make power god.
They cause another's pain
to show that they are boss.
They elevate God's Son
upon a mocking cross
to prove that they are strong,
and wash their hands of loss.
But God who sent the Son
does not condemn the world.
Instead of striking us
Christ lives our death and pain.
The poisoned fangs we fear
are spread as we complain.
Look up and see the cross!
The world can live again!
Barbara Messner 7/03/2024
The Cleansing
The Cleansing
Lent 3, John 2:13-22, Luke 12:32
If he came to our churches on Sunday
to be awkwardly greeted as stranger
would he fashion a whip for our cleansing
would we cringe from his anger as danger?
Would he drive out conservative? liberal?
or upend those who balance on fences?
What offence might he take, at what practice?
Would he shake up our pews or our senses?
Would he tear up my poems and sermons,
say, "You fiddle while so much is burning!"?
Would he throw out projectors or prayer books,
call for change or a zealous returning?
No, I hope he would gather us round him,
knowing how we are raw and confounded,
how we're shaken and cast down by failure,
how we fear that our death knell is sounded.
He will say, "Little flock, don't be fearful,
for the kingdom will keep coming nearer,
and your efforts and gifts won't be wasted:
what you lose is renewed and made clearer.
For the pattern of Easter is central:
out of death comes abundance of living;
that's the secret of all new creating.
Nothing's lost from our loving and giving.
See my body in people not buildings!
Know I'm with you in doubts and believing!
Stir up zeal for compassion and justice!
Learn to listen and wait for receiving!
So my brothers and sisters, keep hoping!
Seek the way and the truth, open-hearted,
and be ready for future unfolding!
I am in you: we cannot be parted!"
Barbara Messner 3/03/21
God Laughs, Weeps and Loves
God Laughs, Weeps and Loves
Lent 2; Genesis 17:1-17, Mark 8:31-38
One theological truth I affirm:
God has a sense of humour
and we are made in that image too.
Bless the Lord who laughs, weeps and loves.
God made Abraham a solemn promise
and adjusted his name to mean
"father of a multitude", so Abraham
fell on his face and laughed,
for he was ninety-nine and not virile.
God had the last laugh (at least in English)
adding "ha" to "Abram", and God said
their son would be "Isaac", meaning
"May God laugh in delight!"
Sarai became Sarah, and "I" was lost to "ah!"
She would have cried a long "ah" in childbirth,
being old and stiff. Oh she laughed,
overhearing the promise:
perhaps in the scant hope of pleasure,
or mocking the men for their dreaming.
Jesus named his offsider "Peter", meaning "rock",
rock to build a church on, but maybe also "rocky",
as in denial in the courtyard of hierarchy.
Insightful Peter named Jesus Messiah;
fallible Peter was rebuked as Satan
for tempting his friend once more
with the lure of safety, fame and power
in place of a cross outside the walls.
Jesus would have sighed, laughed, and forgiven
Peter's rockiness, but Peter's inheritors
often chose safety, fame and power
in place of cross and resurrection.
In prayer on mountain tops,
looking out at flawed beauty,
and on the plains, suffering our failures,
Jesus and God laugh, weep and love.
Though our choices endanger the world,
we are not yet too old for new birth.
Barbara Messner 22/02/2024
The Time is Fulfilled
The Time is Fulfilled
Lent 1; Mark 1:9-15
When we rise in urgent need
seeking sun and air,
from the depths enclosing us
like a womb or tomb,
heavens open; gracious life
swoops to meet us there,
naming us as family,
with the world our room.
Something divine will alight on us,
something human finds wings,
something is heard that delights in us,
something gives voice and sings.
When we wander, overwhelmed,
dazed by sun and air,
driven out to wilderness
where temptations loom,
though the dryness desiccates
hope into despair,
there's a word that calls us out
to face down that doom.
Something corrupting entices us,
something steadfast holds true,
something authentic finds words in us,
something that's timeless and new.
So the kingdom comes to us,
near as sun and air,
when we open arms to it,
and provide it room.
If we let the silence grow
'til it strips us bare,
animals and angels come,
and strange flowers bloom.
Something within us enlightens us,
something changing us leads,
something allures us in mystery,
something that reaches our needs.
Barbara Messner 17/02/2018
Healing Choices
Healing Choices
Epiphany 6; 2 Kings 5:1-14; Mark 1:40-45
If a slave girl had not shared
faith in godly power to heal,
if some servants had not cared,
spoken out with frank appeal,
would his body be restored,
soul washed clean of futile pride?
Naaman's servants saved their lord,
braved his wrath, set fear aside.
Banned from contact, yet he came
close to Jesus, begged and knelt,
knew he need not cringe in shame,
saw compassion deeply felt.
"If you choose, you'll make me clean."
Jesus touched him and then said,
"I do choose, so be made clean."
Maybe cleansing tears were shed.
Hear this! Healing power is shared:
distant prophet for proud lord,
risky touch to leper dared -
choice for both sees life restored.
Servants made the choice to speak,
Jesus let the man come near,
strong man bathed though seeming weak,
let his self-pride disappear.
Barbara Messner 8/02/2024
Woman Lifted Up
Woman Lifted Up
Epiphany 5; Mark 1:29-39
He took her by the hand and raised her up,
and then the fever left her, and the loss
of home and husband and her role and place
no longer kept her weak, confined to bed.
She felt empowered to serve them in this house
that was not hers, but where perhaps she might,
by serving him, discover who she was,
and who she might become, in Jesus' sight.
She ministered as one whom he had raised.
The hand that he had held could now reach out
to those who gathered, needy, at the door.
He healed, she fed, she risked a touch and word.
He lifted her and raises women still,
for bondage spirits keep so many bent.
Now women can stand strong to speak and praise.
He takes my hand and lifts me up again.
Barbara Messner 1/02/2024
Unsanctioned Authority
Unsanctioned Authority
Epiphany 4; Mark 1:21-28
They said he spoke with authority:
a truth more real than the words of scribes,
a truth their leaders dare not see.
The unclean spirit loudly said
both Jesus' name and holy fame.
At his command that spirit fled.
He dared to heal in the synagogue:
the bent stood straight, the withered whole.
No wonder crowds were all agog.
They saw in him authority
those authorized would not confirm.
Now what does that mean for you and me?
I know I'm not Jesus, yet maybe
if I'm authentic, name what's real,
I can claim the Spirit's authority.
We still have scribes who expect respect
for guarding the rules of who may do what:
unsanctioned authority they suspect.
The powers that be still need the right
to say who may teach or interpret the Word,
so they hand out candles, avoid harsh light.
Yet how do we know that the word we say
is true of God and not unclean?
Is there a wise and honest way?
Let me be humble, yet staunchly stand
in confidence to share my gifts,
with ears attuned and practised hand.
Barbara Messner 22/01/2024
Barb, poet priest 