All Saints’ Day – Barb, poet priest

How to Emulate the Saints

How to Emulate the Saints I know of saints who braved the harshest dooms – such courage I cannot aspire to seek. For me, each dental visit darkly looms, and medical appointments spoil my week. St. Anthony of Padua talked with fish and Francis understood the wolf and birds – these saints can stir inContinue reading “How to Emulate the Saints”

What’s a Soul and Who’s a Saint?

“It is impossible to define what soul is. Definition is an intellectual enterprise anyway; the soul prefers to imagine.” Thomas More, Care of the Soul: A Guide to Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life. (HarperPerennial: New York, 1992) xi for All Saints/All Souls Day I don’t think soul answers to “What?” Sometimes I imagineContinue reading “What’s a Soul and Who’s a Saint?”

Song of Lazarus

The Song of Lazarus Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” John 11:35,36 He called. I returned. What else could I do? Though hard it was, and dark to take up flesh I’d left, I did not think to blame. He called. I came forth. What else could IContinue reading “Song of Lazarus”

Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept (Reflection on John 11:32-44, gospel for All Saints’ Day) See, Jesus wept. We know he shares our grief. Like Martha, Mary dared to speak her mind. “If you had been here” – anger finds relief, expressing thoughts so painful and unkind. “If you had been here, he would not have died.” Then JesusContinue reading “Jesus Wept”

Now the Son in a Splendour

Now the Son in a splendour (lyrics) (suggested for All Saints’ Day, John 11:32-44) Now the Son in a splendour of wholeness has shattered the smallness of our mundane lives. He discards all our bindings and coffins, and calls to our dead and our lost to emerge. So our butterfly souls are unfurling, and heartsContinue reading “Now the Son in a Splendour”