The Voice of Sanity
Pentecost 2; Luke 8:26-39
At times we chafe at chains
and shiver in our nakedness
and life among the tombs
can come to seem like home.
We know him, Jesus Christ,
but what he comes to offer us
torments us with a hope
too often snatched away.
We dare not answer “Yes!”,
but he’s intent on healing us.
Our demons, dispossessed,
ride swine into the depths.
Now clothed and in right mind,
we’d go with him to Galilee,
but Jesus bids us stay
and make our healing known.
The city folk in fear
ask him to leave the neighbourhood,
but we must stay and speak
where demons still abound.
We pray his name avails
to help us keep our sanity
alone amidst a crowd
too settled in their chains.
Barbara Messner 18/06/2025
Now Woman Wisdom
Now, Woman Wisdom
Trinity Sunday; Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31
Now, Woman Wisdom, call!
Raise your voice again!
Take your stand at the crossroads
for there are many mis-directions,
and many rush headlong,
though they know not where.
Your cry is to all that live,
for you were brought forth
before the beginning of the Earth.
You were the delight of the Creator,
and joyful partner in the master work.
What now, Woman Wisdom?
Can you rejoice in the inhabited world
and delight in the human race,
or do you weep and warn,
seeing this world and its people
damaged and distorted?
Do you long to teach your ways
before it is too late for healing?
Where now are the wisdom seekers?
Once there were wisdom schools
and rulers renowned as wise.
Now some are posturing bullies
acting out their prejudices
on the hapless populace.
Many deny and abuse
the wise work of the Creator
and close their ears and eyes
to the insights and guidance
of the Human One and Holy Spirit,
to the wise words of sages,
poets and prophets of all ages.
Now Woman Wisdom,
Universal Christ and Holy Spirit,
wisdom of country and First Nations,
call us back to the ways of wholeness!
Teach us to rejoice before the Creator
and delight in the world and humanity
for their rich design and diversity
and potential to become
expressions of love and wisdom.
Barbara Messner 13/06/2025
Holy Spirit Come!
Holy Spirit, Come!
Day of Pentecost; Acts 2:1-21
Holy Spirit, come
in storied metaphor
like rushing wind
that shakes the house
and tongues (or bush) of flame.
If I could choose your form
when we connect, I’d say:
“Please be embodied as a bird:
be like the dove descending,
or the wild goose of Celtic art,
or perhaps the mythic phoenix,
consumed and reborn in fire.”
Some time after my father’s death,
a little friendly bird came to my mother,
a jaunty willy wagtail, flitting and flirting,
sitting on the clothesline as she pegged,
and once upon her shoulder, tender joy.
That bird was God’s love for a time.
The wilderness of grief awaited still,
but the bird brought comfort to go on.
First Nation’s people say that birds bring messages
which ears attuned to country can hear.
I am too dis-located to listen well,
but you in me can sense a sign.
You come to me in black cockatoos,
their soaring flight a ray of the divine
that lights me up with love and awe.
The urban wilderness still waits,
but see! black cockatoos find food
in front yard trees, sustaining hope.
Holy Spirit, come
in breath of risen Word
bestowing peace
enlarging call
and gifting words to speak.
Yes, come to me as word,
the Spirit’s word of sight,
a poet’s word, a prophet’s word,
word in a sleepless night
that gets me up to write,
to wrestle until dawn.
Then wounded, blessed I stumble on,
pursuing insight’s light.
Attune me to your breath,
the rise and fall, the rhythmic need,
breath from four winds and seasons,
the vision in the wilderness
that rouses desiccated bones
and reconnects to life.
Holy Spirit come,
creative inspiration
in words and art,
in drama, dance,
in worship, prayer
and music’s stirring heart.
Teach me to breathe and sing,
sing of creation made to share
for nurture and delight,
and not to plunder for reward,
for power or fame or greed.
Teach me to listen quietly,
so I commune with animals,
with country and with stars.
The wilderness awaits,
temptation, revelation still.
Like Jesus, let us breathe and pray,
remember Wisdom’s word,
and gratefully be tended there
by angels and wild beasts.
Barbara Messner 4/06/2025
Freedom and Choice
Freedom and Choice
Easter 7; Acts 16:16-40
Freedom sometimes comes
when foundations shake
making doors spring wide.
Earth shrugs off our chains.
Free to go or stay
Paul and Silas chose.
“We are here!” they cried,
saved the guard from harm.
Then he washed their wounds,
asked to be baptized
with his family:
faith born from relief.
Though they were released,
Paul claimed Roman rights,
forced apologies.
They were asked to leave.
Did the jailer stay,
new to risky faith,
doubting if his work
could be kind or just?
Freedom sometimes comes
with a heavy price,
yet the Earth conspires
to shake loose what binds.
Then it’s up to us:
we decide to stay
if that serves to save,
or go on our way.
Barbara Messner 29/05/2025
Trees in the Wind
Trees in the Wind
Leaves and twigs of blue gum trees
tossing in this gusty wind
surge and thrash like storm lashed seas.
Underneath the trunks are still
standing strong amidst the stir.
Could I learn such steadfast will?
There are limbs of other gums
change will cause to drop to earth:
death if one unwary comes.
For the tree, is such loss wise,
letting go of weakened branch
while the highest reach the skies?
When some part of me is torn
and with loss my soul is stripped,
let some upward growth be born.
Let my reaching heart grow strong
anchored by my deepest roots
as I grow where I belong.
Barbara Messner 24/05/2025
Farewell Discourse
Farewell Discourse
(Lyrics of a song to a Hebridean Folk tune, Eriskay Love Lilt)
Easter 6; John 14:23-29
1.That last night he washed their feet
and they shared the wine and bread.
Facing death, he taught them
love would live though he’s dead.
2.”Those who love me keep the word
that the Father sent in me.
We will love them and come;
there at home with them be.
3.Then the Spirit will be sent
to remind you what I said,
to be teacher and guide;
trust and you will be led.
4. Peace I leave with you, my peace!
Be not troubled, do not fear!
If you love me, rejoice!
I will always be near!”
5.Now he teaches us today
as he taught them on that night:
love is stronger than death;
love will draw us to Light!
Barbara Messner 17/05/2025
https://barbpoetpriest.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/farewell-discourse-1.pdf
Dreaming a New Creation
Dreaming a New Creation
Easter 5; Acts 11:1-18
In Peter’s dream, the creatures deemed unclean
in sacred scrolls were called food fit to eat.
Three times he heard the Spirit’s voice repeat:
“Don’t call profane what God has now made clean!”
Then Peter, urged by vision’s metaphor,
agreed to travel to a Gentile home,
invited by an officer from Rome –
a breach of nation’s pride and hallowed law.
When Peter preached to the uncircumcised,
the Holy Spirit baptized those who heard.
“Don’t make distinctions!” Hear the Spirit’s word!
We hinder God when others are despised.
Yet in our world the histories of hate
still motivate atrocities of war,
and selfish privilege has barred the door,
excluding those unjustly forced to wait.
O let the visions come and Spirit voice
plead with such prejudice to right the wrongs.
Let messengers be heard in freedom songs
and leaders dare to make the healing choice.
Barbara Messner 14/05/2025
Tell Us Plainly
Tell us Plainly
Easter 4; John 10:22-30
There’s some who want a label, clearly stated,
so they can judge and file this case away.
The evidence of deeds is under rated,
and mystery ignored on every day.
If Jesus said, “For sure, I’m God’s Messiah!”
they’d call it blasphemy and want him dead,
dismiss him as deluded or a liar,
and heap their scorn upon his thorn-bound head.
For Word made flesh, we have selective hearing:
we know him if we recognize his voice,
but how, amidst the doom-sayers we’re fearing,
can people tune their ears to make that choice?
Believing grows with willingness to follow,
for truth is pilgrimage and facts are hollow.
Barbara Messner 4/05/2022
(This is an old one, and I'm not in a sonnet writing phase lately, but I like it's mocking tone, neat form and provocative conclusion.)
The Encounter on the Beach
The Encounter on the Beach
Easter 3; John 21:1-19
When they’d finished the meal,
Jesus asked Peter an awkward question.
“Simon son of John,” he said,
(as though naming Peter’s attempt
to revert to a pre-discipled state),
“Do you love me more than these?”
(Surely this was not a love competition
to choose the forerunner
of centuries of popes?)
Maybe what he meant was:
“Do you love me more than these
creature comforts of your past life –
midnight fishing with mates,
filling a net with 153 fish,
swimming to shore in a dark sea,
eating barbecue on the beach?”
What if he asked us:
“Do you love me more than these
material comforts of modern life –
technological servant/masters
dispensing addictive distractions,
153 food delivery services
and a sea of alcoholic beverages,
supermarket aisles loudly intrusive
with sentimental or agonized
but largely banal
songs about love?
Peter didn’t try to show
“more than” except by repeating:
“You know that I love you”,
and maybe that’s enough
as we face our escapism
and try to retract our denials.
Jesus told him to tend and feed
the lambs and sheep of the Christian flock.
We too are called to tend and feed
though at present lambs are few
and sheep growing old,
reluctant to venture
beyond safe stone walls.
Peter too would grow old,
and would be taken, bound,
where he did not wish to go,
yet we read that his death
would glorify God.
Did Peter atone for 3 denials
with 3 reaffirmations of love?
Jesus accepted him and said
to the man who had failed him:
“Follow me!” and we hear
that this time Peter followed
for the rest of his life,
not entirely blameless,
but facing fear and helplessness
and faithful unto death.
So may we, blundering disciples,
reaffirm our vows of love,
and renew the faith of following.
Barbara Messner 30/04/2025
Doubt and Commitment
Doubt and Commitment
Easter 2; John 20:19-31
When I was ordained deacon
I was secretly glad
that the gospel that day spoke
of Thomas the doubter,
because I had my doubts -
of the institution
rather than of God,
and had been doubted,
by the institutionalized
rather than by God.
Before the doubts, Thomas said:
“Let us also go
that we may die with him.”
He fulfilled that commitment
later as a martyr in India,
but he was not with him
when Jesus was executed
by self-serving authorities.
Was it his failure to live up
to the courage of his commitment,
or was it grief and loss of hope
that plunged him into despairing doubt?
I too have had my times
of failure, grief and loss
leading to self-doubt,
and a flinching away,
not from the risen Christ
but from Christianity co-opted by empires.
Thomas refused the testimony of others
that Christ was risen,
saying he would only believe
what he could touch and see.
Our materialistic society
negates any truth
they say they can’t touch or see,
while keeping their eyes
blinded by screens and hype,
and their hands too busy making money,
or too clenched, hanging on.
If only they might decide,
to join a stranger
on their defeated walk home,
and listen to him on the road,
and invite him in to break bread,
and recognize him at last
with burning hearts.
If only, like Thomas and like me,
they might gather with others
at the right time and place
for prayer and the shared meal
in remembrance of him.
There Christ becomes present,
says: “Peace be with you!”
and offers his wounds
to touch and see.
If only they could be graced
by personal encounter
and say in profound affirmation:
“My Lord and my God!”
Now as a retired priest,
having struggled with failure
and wrestled with commitment,
I feel in my aching bones
that the wounds
of the Risen Christ,
and the pain and love
of doubting Thomas,
saint and martyr,
are calling to our world,
our wounded Earth,
and our sceptical society.
I long to hear that cry
of transformation:
“My Lord and my God”
but I don’t know how to evoke it.
Perhaps with fumbling words
which seem in some sense given,
I still hope to help some touch and see,
because I know that it is possible
for personal experience
and reawakened wonder
to replace doubt, bring joy from grief,
affirm new life and inspire change.
Barbara Messner 24/04/2025
Barb, poet priest 